By Cris Alarcon, InEDC Writer. (April 4, 2025) — The Academic Decathlon team from Oak Ridge High School in El Dorado Hills achieved remarkable success at the recent California State Academic Decathlon, held over three days in Santa Clara. The team secured second place overall in Division 4 and earned a silver medal in the Super Quiz event.
The state competition featured top-performing teams from across California, each having advanced through rigorous county-level contests. Oak Ridge’s journey to Santa Clara was marked by months of dedication, extensive study sessions, and team-building efforts that tested both academic knowledge and collaborative skills.
The Super Quiz, a fast-paced, team-based relay covering a broad spectrum of subjects, was a highlight of the competition. Oak Ridge’s silver medal in this event underscored their cohesion and critical thinking abilities.
Academic Decathlon Coach Jeff Hassian expressed immense pride in the team’s accomplishments.
“I am so pleased with the amazing accomplishments of our Oak Ridge High School students,” “Our team’s notable success was led by captains Sophia Sumimoto and Ethan Pham. I want to personally thank Dr. Manansala from the El Dorado County Office of Education and Oak Ridge High School Principal Aaron Palm for their continued support of this amazing academic competition that allows students from El Dorado County to compete at the state level. The students showed true grit and character in accomplishing this feat and I am so proud of the entire team.”
El Dorado County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ed Manansala also commended the team’s success:
“Congratulations to the Oak Ridge Academic Decathlon team on their outstanding achievements at the state competition. Your hard work, dedication, and commitment to excellence exemplify the very best in academic achievement. You should stand tall and proud of this incredible accomplishment. May you celebrate this moment fully and carry the memories and lessons from this experience with you for a lifetime.”
The Academic Decathlon is a nationally recognized program challenging high school students across ten disciplines: art, economics, essay, interview, literature, mathematics, music, science, social science, speech, and the Super Quiz. It promotes academic rigor and teamwork, as students from different GPA brackets collaborate and support one another through the demanding curriculum.
Oak Ridge High School’s latest achievement at the state level is a testament to the school’s culture of excellence and the power of mentorship, hard work, and teamwork in shaping student success.
[SOURCE] El Dorado County Office of Education
