Stanislaus County junior high school students are gearing up for the 15th Annual Stanislaus County Academic Pentathlon. Approximately 150 students are slated to participate in the one-day series of tests, speeches and essays. The public is invited to attend the culminating event, the Super Quiz and Awards Presentation, on Saturday, April 13 at Blaker-Kinser Junior High School (1601 Kinser Road, Ceres). There is no charge for admission. The Super Quiz will be from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 pm. The Awards Ceremony will begin at 1:45 p.m.

Ten local junior high and middle schools are participating in this year’s event including: Blaker-Kinser, Creekside, Dutcher, Keyes Charter, La Loma, Oakdale, Prescott, Ross, Turlock and Walnut Grove.

Sponsored by the Stanislaus County Office of Education, Omega Nu and the Education Foundation of Stanislaus County, the Pentathlon promotes scholastic achievement and interschool competition in academics. In the Pentathlon, seventh and eighth graders compete as individuals and as team members in Speech and in a series of five tests in subject areas including Mathematics, Fine Arts, Language Arts, Science and Social Studies.

Participating schools can send up to 18 students to serve as the team. Students are placed in categories based on grade point average. To be competitive, you need at least two students per category. Students may compete in a higher category than their own grade point average category but not in a lower category. Categories include Honors, 3.80-4.00 GPA; Scholastic, 3.25-3.79 GPA; and Varsity, 0.00-3.24 GPA.