2017 -- S 0933

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LC002778

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

CONGRATULATING THE BISHOP HENDRICKEN HIGH SCHOOL ACADEMIC

DECATHLON TEAM ON WINNING THE 2017 DIVISION II ACADEMIC DECATHLON

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

     Introduced By: Senators McCaffrey, Ruggerio, Lynch Prata, Metts, and Satchell

     Date Introduced: June 01, 2017

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

     WHEREAS, In 1983, an organization from California called the United States Academic

Decathlon was looking for an innovative way to stoke interest in their newly created program

designed to highlight academic achievement. The organizers decided to launch their new

competition, which featured 10 different academic disciplines, by sending invitations to schools

across the United States, inviting them to compete in this national event. One of the schools that

responded was Hendricken High School; and

     WHEREAS, Bishop Hendricken accepted the initial challenge, returning home with a

couple of gold medals in individual academic subject areas. Since then, Bishop Hendricken has

returned to the national finals, after winning the Rhode Island State Event, on several occasions,

but last week they accomplished something no Rhode Island Team had ever accomplished,

winning first place and beating out thirteen other schools, including a team from China, in the

event held in Madison, Wisconsin; and

     WHEREAS, Possibly the most impressive thing about Bishop Hendricken's victory is

that they won with a team made up of mostly rookies, with only senior Ryan Brady returning

from last year’s team. Team Coach, Sister Carol Ann Murray initially had her doubts about her

team’s chances but thanks to her leadership and the tireless devotion put forth by each team

member, Bishop Hendricken dominated the state competition, compiling 20,000 more points than

the second place finisher, and showing that they were a team to be reckoned with at the national

competition; and

     WHEREAS, During the finals, Bishop Hendricken faced stiff competition from rival

teams from Wisconsin and China, but ultimately prevailed and made Rhode Island High School

history. The team was blessed to be led by longtime team coach and Chemistry teacher Sister

Carol Ann Murray, who not only motivated her students to perform their best but also, at the

conclusion of the event, used her powers of prayer to help lead her team to victory; and

     WHEREAS, Winning a competition in a team event like this requires that every member

put team goals ahead of individual goals and Bishop Hendricken was fortunate to have an

abundance of these kinds of fine young men as they were led to victory thanks to the hard work

proffered by Steven Huang, who earned within the A division, gold medals in music, math and

science, silver in economics, speech and essay, and bronze in art, Dylan Temel, who earned

within the A division, gold medals in economics and speech, and silver in art, and bronze in

music, math, science and social science, Mitchell Boyer, who earned within the B Division, a

gold medal in essay, and silver in speech and science, Connor Milson, who earned within the B

division, bronze medals in language and literature, Alden Pratt, who earned within the B division,

bronze medals in essay, science and speech, Ryan Brady, who earned within the C division, gold

medals in economics, music, language, and literature, science and social science, silver medals in

art and speech, and a bronze medal in essay, Darragh Harkin, who earned within the B division, a

gold medal in interview, and Jaidan Idarraga, who earned a bronze medal in math within the B

division. Additionally, five students placed individually, with Steven Huang placing first and

Dylan Temel second within the A division, Mitchell Boyer and Alden Pratt placing second and

third respectively within the B division, and Ryan Brady placing first in the C division. Cory

Morris also ably assisted the team within the A division; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby congratulates the Bishop Hendricken High School Academic Decathlon Team on winning

the 2017 Division II Academic Decathlon National Championship; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Sister Carol Ann Murray, Coach, Bishop

Hendricken Academic Decathlon Team.

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