Cazenovia Team Takes Top Honors in Academic Decathlon

On Saturday, January 28, 2012, students from the Cazenovia, Liverpool, North Syracuse, Tully, West Genesee and Westhill school districts competed in the 2012 sectional competition of the United States Academic Decathlon sponsored by OCM BOCES. The decathlon, held at Westhill High School, started with a written test, followed by a "super quiz," where students answered questions in front of an audience.

This year, the team from Cazenovia took home the top prize, followed by West Genesee and North Syracuse. Those teams will advance to the New York State Competition on March 9th and 10th at Onondaga Community College. The 31st Annual National USAD Competition will be held from April 25-28 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.



Since it began as a local academic competition in California in 1968, the United State Academic Decathlon has grown to become an international event. The local Academic Decathlon is coordinated by the Onondaga-Cortland-Madison BOCES. Students in ninth through twelfth grades comprise district teams of three “A” students (Honors), three “B” students (Scholastic), and three “C” students (Varsity).  The Academic Decathlon promotes well roundedness by providing competition for each team in several events.  The students take objective tests in art, music, language and literature, social science, mathematics, and economics.

Congratulations to all teams and their coaches on a great job!
Pictured below is the team from Cazenovia.

OCM BOCES to Co-Host Financial Aid Awareness Night at McEvoy Campus

On Wednesday, February 15, 2012, OCM BOCES and Tompkins Cortland Community College (TC3) will co-host a Financial Aid Awareness Night at the OCM BOCES McEvoy Educational Campus (1710 NYS Route 13) in Cortland. From 6:00 – 7:00 PM, financial aid representatives from TC3 will provide an overview of the financial aid process and from 7:00 – 8:00 PM, parents and students will be able to complete the financial aid forms (FAFSA) with guidance from the school’s financial aid representatives.

Registration is required for the 7:00 – 8:00 PM session to ensure computer availability. Please RSVP by calling 607/758-5238 or emailing ccolasurdo@ocmboces.org.

Pro Football Hall of Famer Floyd Little Videoconferences from CNYRIC

On Tuesday, January 17, 2012, the OCM BOCES Central New York Regional Information Center (CNYRIC) had the exciting opportunity to host Floyd Little, Pro Football Hall of Fame and former Syracuse University running back for two videoconference sessions. Floyd Little presented his “Heart of Hall of Famer” series via videoconference from the CNYRIC to 6th – 12th grade students from districts across the United States, including Onondaga Central, right here in Central New York. Students heard about Little's accomplishments on and off the football field and had a chance to ask questions of the Hall of Famer.

OCM BOCES Sponsoring Sectional-Level Academic Decathlon at Westhill High School – Saturday, January 28, 2012

Students from six local school districts participating

On Saturday, January 28, 2012, approximately 50-60 students from the Cazenovia, Liverpool, North Syracuse, Tully, West Genesee and Westhill school districts will compete in the 2012 sectional competition of the United States Academic Decathlon (USAD) at Westhill High School (4501 Onondaga Boulevard) in Syracuse. The theme of this year’s event is The Age of Empire. The Decathlon will begin at 8:30 AM, with students engaging in a series of paper and pencil tests through 1:00 PM. At 1:40PM, the “Super Quiz” (oral relay) portion of the Decathlon will commence, with students responding to questions in front of an audience. The Awards Ceremony will be held following the Super Quiz.

The two highest scoring teams will advance to the New York State Competition on March 9 and 10 at Onondaga Community College. The 31st Annual National USAD Competition will be held from April 25-28 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Since it began as a local academic competition in California in 1968, the United State Academic Decathlon has grown to become an international event. The local Academic Decathlon is coordinated by the Onondaga-Cortland-Madison BOCES.  Students in ninth through twelfth grades will comprise district teams of three “A” students (Honors), three “B” students (Scholastic), and three “C” students (Varsity).  The Academic Decathlon promotes well roundedness by providing competition for each team in several events.  The students will take objective tests in art, music, language and literature, social science, mathematics, and economics. They will also participate in a “Super Quiz”, which consists of an individual written test followed by a team oral relay conducted before an audience. For 2011 - 2012 the Super Quiz topic is “The Age of Imperialism”.

For more information about the 2012 sectional level Academic Decathlon at Westhill High School, call Steve Saya, OCM BOCES’ Coordinator of Educational Services and Academic Decathlon Sectional Coordinator, at 315/431-8598.

Participants and coaches are:

Cazenovia – Coaches: Christie Brenneck and Martin Kelly 

Contestants: Danielle Axelson, Maxwell Blair, Avery Stone-Fish, Robert Louis, David Martellock, Samuel Medbury, Darren Mihaich and Kyle Polhamu. Alternates:  Kilian Crowley, Ganli Demyttenaere, Hannah Gravelding and Riley Lloyd.

Cicero-North Syracuse – Coach: Theresa Rice

Contestants: Anna Bruzgulis, Aine Evangelista, Edwina Kisanga, Christopher Pavente, Eric Perdew, Michael Renz, Kevin Shane and Dylan Werts. Alternates:  Nathan Clapper and Mahdi Mere. 

Liverpool – Coach: Daryl Burrer
Contestants: Rob Clark, Jay Godzwon, Nate LeClair, Lawrence Nguyen, Raj Patel, Nick Price, Matt Rose and Mercedes Siddiqui. Alternates:  Susie Lu.


Tully – Coach: Eufemia Gallipeau
Contestants: Leo Doody, Jon Dudley, Ashley Evans, Zoe Guttendorf, Sarah Hafler, Zach Kennedy, Phil Lipsky, Schuyler McGregor and Marcus Warner.

West Genesee – Coach: Scott Duda
Contestants: Ken Brill, Andrew Fordyce, Lindsay Grome, Kristina Konfederat, Megan Nolan, Alex Pompo, Mike Richards, Jerry Roy and Emma Ryan. Alternates: Lauren Brieant, Callie Campbell, John Lisi, Megan Petty, Tatyana Shakhov and Dakota White.

Westhill – Coaches: Nancy Rein and Sarah Fleming
Contestants: Rachel Berry, Aidan Kelly, Alex Mevec, Alex Mrozek, Jordan Roach, Jenny Root, Emily Scholl and Juliana Thompson.  Alternates:  Molly Clark, Chandler Loyd, Elizabeth Meluni and Anatasia Useva.