Community Corner
Whiz Kids: Franklin High School Decathlon Team
Franklin High School's academic decathlon team is heading to the statewide championship in Sacramento.
The Franklin High School Academic Decathlon Team: Marvin Alcantara, 17; Kevin Alfaro, 17; Omar Carrillo, 17; Juan Cuadra, 18; Mara Fuentes, 17; Cynthia Ramirez-Gomez, 17; Wendy Renteria, 16; Gaby Sanchez, 17; Andy Vuong, 17.
Whiz Kid's Ages: 16-18
Whiz Kid's School: Franklin High School, Highland Park
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Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: Placed 4th citywide in the January Decathlon championship; 6th in the state and 7th in the country.
Whiz Kid's Goal: Take 1st Place in Sacramento in March, marking Franklin High’s first every decathlon win.
Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness: This nine-member power team says “daring greatly," "taking fate by the throat," and never fearing the obstacles are their key strategies for success. They are not just a team, but a “decathlon family,” who hang together when not "nerding it up," as one put it, which translates to intense afterschool studying of art, economics, history, math, science and English. The subject that really rocks their world right now is geology, which happens to be the “super quiz” coming up on their statewide championship test in Sacramento March 11-14.
Their teacher, Professor Sam Kullens, who took over the decathlon training four years ago, lead Franklin’s 2010 team to the school’s first-ever statewide championship. "These guys are a prime example of what it means to dedicate yourself and they're doing it because this matters to them."
