ACADEC Team Garners 17 State Medals
Chardon High School’s Academic Decathlon team exemplified excellence as it navigated a rigorous State competition throughout March following the team’s garnering of 28 medals in regional competitions last month.
“As with many activities this year, the 2021 State competition was forced into the virtual realm for all phases, culminating in a Zoom awards ceremony on March 20,” said CHS ACADEC coach and business teacher Allen Herner. “Facing stiff competition in a tough division, Chardon represented well, coming away with 17 individual medals spread over all ten disciplines.”
State medalists included senior Bradley Duchon (two gold, four silver, two bronze); graduating junior Paige Yamamato (three Silver, one Bronze, and Paige was featured in a speech showcase); senior Abigail Atchley (one silver, one bronze, and Abigail carried the highest overall team score); senior Benjamin Perry (two bronze); and sophomore Austin MacCartney (one bronze).
“Of course none of this would be possible without the support of the Chardon Schools Foundation and their generous funding of study materials and entry fees,” added Mr. Herner.
Auburn Teams Claim Silver in Regionals
Demonstrating prowess in their fields of study, three Chardon High School students, together with their respective Auburn Career Center teams, earned silver in regional competitions held in February and March.
CHS juniors Savannah Bryant and Charlotte Kurtz competed in the Ohio Family, Career and Community Leaders of America’s Career Development Events, which were evaluated in February and March.
Bryant, who is enrolled in ACC’s Culinary Arts program, participated as part of a three-member ACC junior team that earned silver in the Culinary Team event for Region 1. Teams were assessed on their ability to work as a team to produce three industry-quality dishes using recipes provided by the state office and were required to prepare a demonstration video creating these culinary delights.
As a student of ACC’s Architecture Project Management program, Kurtz competed on a three-member ACC junior team that earned silver in the Interior Design – Level 3 event for Region 1. Teams were assessed on their application of interior design skills learned through FCS courses and were required to create deliverables addressing the specifics of a design scenario and prepare an electronic display in their video presentation.
Olivia Brosch, a CHS junior enrolled in ACC’s Criminal Justice and Security program, competed as part of a three-member ACC team in the SkillsUSA Ohio Northeast Region’s Crime Scene Investigation event in February. In conducting a simulated crime scene investigation, Brosch and her team applied their expertise in such areas as crime scene photography; physical evidence search, collection and removal; scene sketch drawing; latent fingerprint dusting; and proper and legal release of a crime scene.
The team’s stellar performance earned the students a silver medal plus advancement to the SkillsUSA Ohio State competition scheduled for April 9.
Tiny Toppers Service Project a Dynamite Success
When Maple School teacher Chloe Ellis spearheaded a food drive in early March with the school’s nearly 240 Tiny Toppers kindergarten and pre-kindergarten students, she set the overall goal at 200 boxes of cereal.
By late March, Tiny Toppers families had well toppled that goal, generously amassing 450 donated boxes of cereal for community members in need.
The final total came in at nearly 500 boxes due to additional donations from Chardon High School’s National Honor Society. CHS NHS students further supported the service project on March 25 by setting up an impressive “domino train” of the cereal boxes outdoors on Maple School’s grounds. Cereal domino trains have become an Internet sensation and proved for an exciting entertainment reward for Tiny Toppers students.
“We are so lucky to have such kind kids and families in Chardon,” said Miss Ellis. “With Kindergarten, it is often hard to show how they can make a difference. They really understood they were helping people in need in our community. Students even said ‘that is going to help so many people.’”
Pilgrim Christian Church in Chardon, which is graciously handling distribution of the donated cereal to those in need, said it was the largest donation of one item they might have ever received. The church is sharing the massive collection with a pantry in Burton and also with Geauga County Veteran Food Pantry.
“As a member and Elder of Pilgrim Christian Church we are eternally grateful for your loving generosity,” read a thank you note posted to Chardon Schools’ Facebook page on March 27. “Thank you to you, your little ones, and the big ones too. You will make many smile.”
