Academic Decathlon nets seven medals, scholarship

By STEPHANY MEDINA
The Tower

The 2024 San Joaquin Academic Decathlon occurred Feb. 3, 2024.

Held at Lathrop High, Manteca High’s own Elise Nicole Miller received a scholarship to the University of Pacific. In total 14 local high schools competed in the annual decathlon, including Manteca, Lathrop, Ripon, and Sierra.

This year marked the 42nd Academic Decathlon. Each year the academic decathlon has a different theme; this year it was “Technology and Sci-Fi.”

Students competed in seven subjects and only three students received a scholarship to Pacific – scholars at Manteca High, Stockton Early College Academy, and Sierra High.

Manteca High’s academic decathlon has 16 members, led by teacher Jennifer Benson, who teaches in the Language Art Department and is also the leader of the College Prep Club. Recently, Benson led a group of students to visit UC Davis, Berkeley, and Sacramento State.

Before becoming a club leader, Benson did not know what decathlon was. She became the advisor and coach after former leader Mike McCullough retired.

“At first I didn’t know what it was,” Benson said. “Now I am into it, we love it. It’s a cool experience.”

Benson proves to be an inspiration to the members of her decathlon.

Senior Christina Nguyen has been a member of the decathlon team since her sophomore year, and she’s received a silver medal in music. Nguyen says there’s a strong bond on the team.

“We get along well we are like a family,” Nguyen said. “There’s a lot of laughs and jokes. Some people say things they shouldn’t, and we all laugh about it.”

Senior Leslie Hernandez Caballero recently joined the team, citing Benson’s influence.

“I joined to expand my knowledge,” she said, “and Benson inspired me to join the club.”

Elise Miller is a bright soul, who Nguyen labeled as an “academic weapon.”

Miller is a mentor to her peers and is always willing to provide a helping hand. This was notable in John Gibson’s classroom. He’s taught Miller twice – once in the fall in AP Psychology and this term in AP Microeconomics.

“She’s an amazing young lady,” Gibson said. “She’s very intelligent, detailed oriented and she is more than willing to help others in the class, trying to work out problems with others and help them understand their assignment.”

Miller recently turned 18 and received a scholarship of $5,000 from the University of Pacific. This scholarship is renewable for four years. Miller explains that her reason for being so active within this club was that she was aware that there was the possibility of her receiving this scholarship.

Miller wishes to have a career in environmental science, “I want to find something in environmental science, make a difference in the world pretty much.”

In total, seven of Manteca High’s students received an award from the academic decathlon. Members meet twice a week, working year-round for the chance to win an award. These members work diligently all year and celebrate each other’s victories.

Benson hopes to continue to expand her academic decathlon team.

“My first year, we only had six students,” she said. “Now have 16 students. I hope numbers continue to grow.”