USA Funds Helps Gifted Students Excel at Kansas Academic Decathlon

Two hundred of Kansas’ brightest high-school students will gather to compete in the ‘sport of learning’ at the Kansas Academic Decathlon, to be hosted by Kansas State University Jan. 20-21. For the second-consecutive year, USA Funds^® will serve as the primary sponsor of the event.

Twenty teams of 10 members, one coach and nine students will participate in the two-day academic competition at the university. Participants are in grades nine through 12 and are among the most-gifted and most-talented students at their schools. Throughout the event, students will complete 10 academic-competition tests, which reference knowledge and communication skills about a central theme. The winning team will represent Kansas in the national competition in April in San Antonio.

Established in 1991, the Kansas Academic Decathlon provides students with an early introduction to higher education, by helping them learn about academic majors, careers and other opportunities that come with pursuing a college degree. In addition, the competition makes colleges and universities aware of the abilities of participating students.

“Many of the students represented will be the first in their family to attend college,” says Mindy Weixelman, director of development for student life at the Kansas State University Foundation. “The Academic Decathlon is their first, and sometimes only, exposure to postsecondary education.”

The decathlon is the only competition of its kind to pair gifted students with other students of similar academic performance. Students represent all levels of the gifted classroom. The competition does not require the use of standardized-test scores for participation.

USA Funds’ three-year grant in support of the Kansas Academic Decathlon supports the initiative in the following ways:

• Provides start-up funds for teams to get involved in the statewide competition.
• Underwrites the cost of professional training and educational materials for gifted educators.
• Offers financial assistance for underserved populations; 25 percent of participating students are African American or Hispanic.
• Covers stipends for high-school educators of gifted students to serve as coaches.
• Subsidizes team travel expenses.
• Provides funding for teams to purchase the $600 basic course-material packet and other necessary training components.

“This is a great opportunity to introduce the university experience to gifted high-school students in Kansas,” says Larry Viterna, USA Funds Services regional executive. “Often, gifted students are mistakenly thought to have access to education, but many of these students still are the first in their families to attend college. The decathlon gives them a chance to get in the midst of things, be encouraged in their academic endeavors, and see what educational options are available.”

In addition to USA Funds’ financial support, Valerie Walthall, USA Funds customer-relations manager for Kansas, serves on the board for the Kansas Academic Decathlon for the 2005-2006 academic year.