"We go to the moon and do these other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard. -- John F. Kennedy
The Academic Decathlon is by far the most challenging nationwide academic competition today. A student who accepts the challenge will multiply the quality of their high school learning by at least a factor of two.
The Academic Decathlon is the Mount Everest, the Tour de France, or the Ironman Triathlon of academic competitions. Participants in the Academic Decathlon challenge themselves to master a large amount of new learning each year, and during the struggle, discover new abilities they didn't know they had.
The Academic Decathlon attracts some of the finest students in the state of Nebraska. This competition brings together in competition the top scholars in the state of Nebraska including numerous winners of Regents, National Merit and Kiewit Scholarships.
Amazingly, the more you study, the better and faster you get at studying. A student who has had to disect and master 6-8 new decathlon topics each year becomes very efficient at studying. A formal essay writing contest tends to sharpen your writing skills and a formal speech in front of a panel of judges really gets your attention.
The principal benefit of an education is to build an appreciation for the wonder and complexity our world. We are interested in the things that we know about. By broadening a student's horizons, the Academic Decathlon program gives to its participants an increased sense of appreciation of our world.
Nebraska teams that finish in the top three in each of the six regional competitions in January win scholarships ranging from $75 to $200. The top three teams at the state competition again receive scholarships. While the awards are not quite a full-ride to college, every little bit helps.