MADERA COUNTY — With many events throughout the country being canceled, the 2020 Madera County Academic Pentathlon was not one of them.
The middle school competition was held on Friday, May 1 and moved to an individual online format. Students were able to compete from home.
Medals were sent to students at their home and a video awards announcement was released on the Madera County Superintendent of Schools Student Events Facebook page for students and families to view.
The Pentathlon was held in coordination with other counties throughout the state that elected to continue with a modified event. County coordinators worked together to create a state-wide Pentathlon day. Students took tests in the areas of fine arts, literature, science and social science.
All tests centered on this year’s theme “In Sickness and In Health: A History of Illness and Wellness.”
“What a timely topic for this year’s competition,” said Dr. Cecilia Massetti, Madera County Superintendent of Schools. “Students were able to put into practice some of the things they learned while studying infectious diseases and pandemics throughout our history.”
When reached by phone, North Fork Elementary School student Laura DeSilva said the historical perspective she gained by studying for the pentathlon has proved reassuring in these difficult times.
“It could be worse,” DeSilva noted.
Better late than never
The Academic Pentathlon was originally scheduled for March 13 and was postponed the day before competition. The date was changed multiple times due to COVID-19 and finally moved to an online format.
All schools elected to continue to participate and 186 students competed online, 76% of the original number of students originally registered, which is higher than the state average.
“The event looked quite different from past events, but one thing that didn’t change was the students’ dedication to the program and being their best,” said Massetti. “They handled the many unforeseen changes to the event like the champions they are.”
Students had been studying and preparing for competition since September when they were given the materials. A list of medalists for the 7th and 8th grade competition is below.
If you know a student who would like their photo included in this article, please send to info@yosemitehomecompanion.com.
Participating schools included: Coarsegold Elementary, Mountain Home Charter, North Fork Elementary, Oak Creek Intermediate, Raymond-Knowles Elementary, Rivergold Elementary, Spring Valley, Sherman Thomas STEM Academy, St. Paul’s, Ranchos Middle, Eastin-Arcola, Howard Elementary, Jack G. Desmond Middle, Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle, and Thomas Jefferson Middle Schools. Local schools’ winners are shown in bold.
Fine Arts 7th Grade
Gold Laura DeSilva North Fork Elementary School
Silver Jackson Olney North Fork Elementary School
Silver Chuck Cunningham Mountain Home School Charter
Bronze Mayrlin Vasquez Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School
4th Zev Grifalconi Mandel North Fork Elementary School
4th Macie Kearney Mountain Home School Charter
4th Benjamin Olney North Fork Elementary School
4th Keira Partin Rivergold Elementary School
4th Jessica Pennington Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School
5th Oscar Herrera Jack G. Desmond Middle School
Literature 7th Grade
Gold Mayrlin Vasquez Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School
Silver Cade Fullmer Spring Valley Elementary School
Bronze Jackson Olney North Fork Elementary School
Bronze Ashlyn Sever Ranchos Middle School
Bronze Jessica Pennington Martin Luther King Jr. Middle
School
4th Chuck Cunningham Mountain Home School Charter
4th Hannah Rich Mountain Home School Charter
4th Samantha Mendoza Thomas Jefferson Middle School
5th Benjamin Olney North Fork Elementary School
5th Laura DeSilva North Fork Elementary School
5th Bay Garlick Sherman Thomas STEM Academy
5th Zayden Fausone Mountain Home School Charter
Science 7th Grade
Gold Kianna Cortes Howard Elementary School
Silver Benjamin Olney North Fork Elementary School
Silver Violet Kelly Spring Valley Elementary School
Bronze Tessa Camacho Spring Valley Elementary School
Bronze Edgar Cortez Howard Elementary School
4th Jessica Pennington Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School
4th Ashlyn Sever Ranchos Middle School
5th Macie Kearney Mountain Home School Charter
Social Science 7th Grade
Gold Laura DeSilva North Fork Elementary School
Silver Oscar Herrera Jack G. Desmond Middle School
Bronze Mayrlin Vasquez Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School
Bronze Ariella Beeler Sherman Thomas STEM Academy
4th Jackson Olney North Fork Elementary School
5th Keira Partin Rivergold Elementary School
Fine Arts 8th Grade
Gold Tigerlily King Mountain Home School Charter
Silver Wil Lodge Mountain Home School Charter
Silver Jacqueline Bolanos Jack G. Desmond Middle School
Bronze Alexandra Tripp Sherman Thomas STEM Academy
4th Landon Donahue North Fork Elementary School
5th Haven O’Connor Mountain Home School Charter
5th Khloe Owen North Fork Elementary School
Literature 8th Grade
Gold Tigerlily King Mountain Home School Charter
Silver Elise Bauer North Fork Elementary School
Silver Elizabeth Price Ranchos Middle School
Bronze Azucena Velasco Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School
4th Eli Lockwood Mountain Home School Charter
4th David Perez North Fork Elementary School
5th Landon Donahue North Fork Elementary School
Science 8th Grade
Gold Emma Henson Sherman Thomas STEM Academy
Silver Alexandra Tripp Sherman Thomas STEM Academy
Silver Aidan Feskorn Spring Valley Elementary School
Bronze Nizhoni Gallegos Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School
4th Ivan Gaytan-Alcaraz Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School
4th Norma Gomez Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School
4th David Perez North Fork Elementary School
4th Acacia Edeluchel Spring Valley Elementary School
4th Joshua Wolford Spring Valley Elementary School
5th Tigerlily King Mountain Home School Charter
Social Science 8th Grade
Gold Wil Lodge Mountain Home School Charter
Silver Alexandra Tripp Sherman Thomas STEM Academy
Bronze David Perez North Fork Elementary School
4th Tigerlily King Mountain Home School Charter
4th Acacia Edeluchel Spring Valley Elementary School
5th Aidan Feskorn Spring Valley Elementary School
5th Haven O’Connor Mountain Home School Charter
5th Eli Lockwood Mountain Home School Charter
5th Elizabeth Price Ranchos Middle School
5th Kennedy Sever Ranchos Middle School