Hillsboro junior Brett Salisbury traveled to Green Bay last week to compete in the State Academic Decathlon. The Academic Decathlon is a national high school competition created in 1968 by Robert Peterson as a statewide event in California, and finally expanded nationally in 1981. The WIAD (Wisconsin Academic Decathlon) is in its 39th season.
The decathlon promotes academic excellence across a variety of areas, including essay, art, economics, interview, math, science, music, prepared and impromptu speech, music, and many more. The Academic Decathlon has opportunities for both teams and individuals to compete.
Brett spent countless hours preparing for the State Decathlon, and after a busy two-day event, he arrived home in Hillsboro with two medals, placing second and third out of more than 40 students. His silver medal-winning essay explored how the advent of radio and film culture affected leisure time.
The decathlon remains a powerful educational tool and motivational experience for high school students who are driven to push their limits and practice skills that may be wholly new to them. The decathlon is a celebration of students embracing the difficult, rigorous, and complex. We congratulate Brett Salisbury not only for his accomplishments, but for his will to challenge himself.