The St. Pius X High School Academic Decathlon Team earned second place at the 2022 United States Academic Decathlon National Finals, marking the fourth time in school history that the team has placed in the competition’s top three teams. The team also earned St. Pius X’s 21st New Mexico State Championship to advance to the finals and represent the state.

“Everything gelled for us, and the students pulled off a fantastic result this year!” said James Penn, mathematics and science teacher at SPX, who started the program in the 1991-1992 school year.

The United States Academic Decathlon was founded with a purpose of developing well-rounded individuals with strong leadership qualities. The competition prepares students in 10 subject areas including art, music, literature, history, economics, math, science, essay writing, speech, and personal interview. This year’s topic of focus was Water. Teams may be composed of up to nine total students, three each from high, medium, and lower GPA categories.

Saint Pius X competed in Division III, high schools with approximately 1000 students or fewer. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the finals were completed online over three days in April, with interviews, speeches, and objective tests all done virtually and the awards ceremony presented over YouTube.

Along with a national second place, Saint Pius X team members won nineteen national medals in individual events, one of the highest totals ever. Individual awards are as follows:

HONORS DIVISION

Adam Goodyear

• National Gold Medal in Essay
• National Silver Medal in Speech
• National Bronze Medals in History and Art
• Gold Medal for Highest Overall Score among team members
• Scholarship Winner for Overall Score
• 4th Places in Science and in Interview

Sela Boswell

• National Bronze Medal in Interview
• 4th Place in History, one question shy of the Bronze Medal
• Scholarship Winner for Team MVP Award

Susanna Lanucara

• 5th Places in History and in Art

SCHOLASTIC DIVISION

Colette Correa-Bruzzese

• National Silver Medals in Science, History, and Essay
• National Bronze Medal in Art
• 4th Places in Literature, Mathematics, and Interview
• 4th Place in Overall Score, just shy of winning a scholarship

Raphael Lente

• National Bronze Medals in Speech, Mathematics, and Essay
• 5th Places in Economics, Art, and Literature

Jeffrey Peterson

• National Gold Medal in Essay

VARSITY DIVISION

Chidike Anozie

• National Silver Medal in Science
• National Bronze Medals in Economics and Essay
• 4th Place in History, one question shy of the Bronze Medal
• National Division III Plaque for Overall Score
• Scholarship Winner for Overall Score

Ella Hooks

• National Silver Medals in Mathematics and Essay
• 4th Places in Art and Literature, one question shy of Bronze Medals

Jonathan Constable

• National Gold Medal in Essay
• 4th Place in Science, one question shy of the Bronze Medal