LYSD to compete at Academic Decathlon State Competition

The 2023 Alaska Academic Decathlon State Competition will bring together twelve teams of high school students from around the state, including a team from the Lower Yukon School District, to the UAA Campus, March 1-4, to compete in ten scholastic subjects based on the yearly theme. Along with studying the Literature, Science, Social Science, Math, Art, Economics and Music of the American Revolution, students also write an essay, craft and deliver speeches in front of a panel of judges and engage in professional-type interviews.

Thanks to our premier partner, Alaska 529 ($28,000 in scholarships) and the University of Alaska ($9,000 in scholarships), this program awards more than 20 annual scholarships.

Participating Teams: Bering Strait School District, Craig, IDEA (two teams), Juneau, Hutchison High School (FBKS), Ketchikan, Lower Yukon School District, Lathrop High School (FBKS), North Pole, Valdez, and Valley Pathways (Mat-Su).

The event kicks off on Wednesday, March 1, from 7–8:30 pm at the University of Alaska Anchorage’s Student Union where the students will engage in fun ice-breakers including a scavenger hunt for information from our academic partners (UAA, UAF, UAS, Alaska Community Foundation and APU). The evening will end with a raffle giveaway of tech gifts (iPads, Apple Watches, Ear Buds) donated by GCI.

Other event highlights include the Super Quiz that will take place on March 3, at the UAA Fine Arts Theatre from 7-8 pm. This fast-paced battle of skills challenges students to show off their knowledge on this year’s theme in front of a live audience.

The event ends on March 4 at the Lucy Cuddy Hall with an awards ceremony where subject winners, scholarship recipients and overall team winners who will represent Alaska at the United States Academic Decathlon National Competition will be announced.

Considered one of the most rigorous scholastic events in the country, the Alaska Academic Decathlon engages students of all abilities. Each team must be comprised of students of varying GPAs.

The Alaska Academic Decathlon is a program of SERRC – Alaska’s Educational Resource Center and is sponsored by Alaska 529, GCI, ConocoPhillips Alaska, Norwegian Cruise Lines, RurAL CAP Foundation, Alaska Commercial Company, Golden Heart Community Foundation, Usibelli Coal Mine, Hansen Gress, Kensington Coeur Alaska, and Alyeska Pipeline.