Written by Julian Spearman, Student Activities Department.
Success in Academic Decathlon is often measured in dedicated hours of study.
This year, the School for the Talented & Gifted at Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Center, made their mark on the national stage.
After placing second at the Texas state tournament in Corpus Christi, they qualified to compete in Nationals Online. There, they secured third place in the eNationals competition.
Greer Gaines, TAG coach, attributes the team’s success to a culture of community and tenacity.
According to Gaines, the program’s foundation is built on a concrete and objective system of accountability and student buy-in.
This commitment includes countless after-school practices where students dive deep into art, music, science, and social science.
“It’s something they know is real and true,” said Gaines. “We had some of Texas’s top scorers at the state tournament in Corpus Christi. Those are victories that the students can carry with them and draw on in the future.”
Beyond the scores, Gaines’s leadership focuses on the broad impact an academic program can have on a campus culture.
In her view, the Academic Decathlon is a vital tool for building a more connected school community.
“It provides an opportunity to build community and expand knowledge across the campus,” Gaines said. “Even students who only come to a few practices and might not compete still have the chance to make friends with students from other grade levels and social groups that they wouldn’t have met otherwise.”
Gaines said that relationships like these are what students can carry with them for the rest of their lives.
“Succeeding in this context establishes a solid foundation for students to pursue their passions,” she said. “It teaches them to have expectations and pursue great things.”
