It's as though the COVID-19 pandemic was a motivator, as opposed to a setback, for seven Katy Independent School District high school teams determined to win big at the 2021 Texas Academic Decathlon Event.  Despite the competition being held virtually, a group of Katy, Mayde Creek, Morton Ranch, Taylor, Cinco Ranch, Seven Lakes and Tompkins high school students prepared months in advance and set out to represent Katy ISD at one of the largest academic competitions in the nation.  Their high-level curriculum studies included Math, Music, Economics, Science, Literature, Art and Social Studies.  Ultimately their hard work earned them several gold, silver and bronze recognitions as well as honorable mentions in distinct categories.

"It truly takes a team effort among students to come out victorious in this competition," said Joan Otten, Director of Katy ISD Gifted & Talented and Advanced Academics Department.  "To see how students were resilient and grew throughout the preparation process as well as at competition is so rewarding for them and it ultimately creates everlasting experiences which they will use in the future," added Otten.

Academic Decathlon Results

Individual Overall Honors:

• Kevin Li – Taylor High - Second Place for Overall Scholastic Large School
• Hana Chaudhry – Cinco Ranch High – Fifth Place Overall Honors
• Taylor High School – Sixth Place - Top Overall Large Team

Seven Lakes High School:

• Robert Lopez – Silver Award – Mathematics Scholastic
• Michael Zhang – Bronze Award – Mathematics Scholastic
• Anagha Kenikar – Bronze Award – Music Honor

Taylor High School:

• Maggie Yu – Gold Award – Mathematics Honor
• Kevin Li – Gold Award – Interview Scholastic
• Kevin Li – Silver Award – Economics Scholastic
• Kevin Li – Bronze Award – Art Scholastic
• Nathaniel Luther – Silver Award – Literature Scholastic
• Nathaniel Luther – Bronze Award – Science Scholastic

Cinco Ranch High School:

• Amy Kim – Gold Award – Interview Scholastic
• Hana Chaudhry – Gold Award – Literature Honor
• Hana Chaudhry – Gold Award – Interview Honor
• Hana Chaudhry – Silver Award – Art Honor
• Hana Chaudhry – Silver Award – Science Honor
• Hana Chaudhry – Bronze Award – Music Honor
• Daniel Yang – Silver Award – Mathematics Honor
• Daniel Yang – Silver Award – Social Science Honor

Tompkins High School:

• Krishna Hariprasad – Bronze Award – Science Scholastic
• Pranav Kurapati – Bronze Award – Mathematics Varsity
• Emily Doan – Bronze Award – Interview Varsity

Katy High School:

• Annabel Langan – Silver Award – Music Honor
• Cal Rogers – Silver Award – Art Honor

Mayde Creek High:

• Mohammad Zaidi – Bronze Award – Art Honor
• Mohammad Zaidi – Bronze Award – Social Science Honor

Morton Ranch High:

• Zoe Frausto – Silver Award – Art Honor
• Zoe Frausto – Bronze Award – Social Science Honor
• Daniel Naranjo – Silver Award – Science Varsity
• Daniel Naranjo – Bronze Award – Interview Varsity

The Texas Academic Decathlon Event is the second-largest academic program in the nation where students could be one of the beneficiaries of $264,000 in scholarships.