Weathering late-night study sessions, team practices and hours of reading, Stanislaus County high school students are pulling out all the stops as they head into the home stretch of preparations for the 2017 Stanislaus County Academic Decathlon. Hailed as the biggest academic event for local high schools, the decathlon is a two-day series of tests, speeches and interviews featuring this year’s theme, “World War II”. The public is invited to attend the culminating event, the Super Quiz and Awards Presentation, on Saturday, Feb. 4 from 1:20 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Central Catholic High School, 200 S. Carpenter Road, Modesto. There is no charge for admission.

Co-sponsored by the Stanislaus County Office of Education (SCOE), Gallo Foundation and Mocse Credit Union, the decathlon promotes interschool competition in academics and is supported through contributions made by businesses and the community. According to SCOE Student Events Coordinator Cheryl Goulart, the goal of the decathlon is to stimulate intellectual growth and scholastic success.

“The competition is open to all students, not just the top-achievers,” she said. “Our objective is to recognize student achievement and to emphasize the positive dimensions of education.”

Participating schools send a total of nine members to serve as the core team – three students in each of three categories, based on grade point averages. Schools may send as many alternate participants as they choose. Categories include Honors, 3.75-4.00 GPA; Scholastic, 3.00-3.74 GPA; and Varsity, up to a 2.99 GPA. Twelve local high schools are participating in this year’s event including: Beyer, Central Catholic, Ceres, Davis, Enochs, Gregori, Hughson, Johansen, Modesto, Oakdale, Patterson and Valley Charter.

This year’s winner will represent Stanislaus County at the California Academic Decathlon State Finals, March 24 and 25 in Sacramento.