The GCI Alaska Academic Decathlon is a statewide scholastic competition for high school students. Teams are comprised of A, B, and C students, working to-gether to learn and compete in 10 academic areas: art, economics, essay, interview, language and literature, music, science, social science and speech. Teams compete for a chance to represent Alaska at the national competition. It is the premier academic competition in the United States involving more than 35,000 students each year.

Valdez High School, GCI Alaska Academic Deathlon Winners

"Joining Aca-Deca was the best thing I did for myself in high school. In addition to honing my studying skills, I have become more of a cultured person. I feel that these attributes wouldn't have reached their current levels without the assistance of the Academic Decathlon Program," said Valdez High School student Taylor Glen Austad, a four-year academic decathlon member.

The decathlon helps students to develop knowledge-based skills which enable students to become a part of the business community, challenges the students to push themselves beyond what they thought academically possible, motivates and recaptures their interest in academics, rewards the heroes of the academic arena, and encourages C students to excel beyond their current achievement level and teaches other students that they have strengths they can contribute to the team.

Each year, the GCI Alaska Academic Decathlon is held in Anchorage with more than 30 schools, from Barrow to Metlakatla, competing. For more information about the decathlon visit aad.gci.net/.

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