MacArthur Fundamental’s students sweep the OC Academic Pentathlon

Guess who swept the Orange County Academic Pentathlon this year? Santa Ana’s own MacArthur Fundamental Intermediate!  Their two 8th grade teams took first AND second place overall and Mac’s only 7th grade team took first place!

Overall, over 54 individual medals were won as well.

The 7th grade team, coached by Ms. Christine Silva:
  • Angel Cuellar
  • Blake Pham
  • Brian Roman
  • Christina Nguyen
  • Elisa Olivares
  • Justin Salgado
  • Kevin Nguyen
  • Mikaella Miguel
  • Selene Chang
The 8th grade team, coached by Mrs. Laurie Tristan:
Team 1
  • Aaron Mendez
  • Ashley Chavez
  • Giselle Ramos
  • Jesse Perez
  • Josceline Acosta
  • Noah Tristan
  • Sofia Olivares
  • Teddy Moreno
  • Valeria Borroel
Team 2
  • Celina Olivares
  • Alexis Ortega
  • Charissa Nguyen
  • Jason Acosta
  • Karina Torres
  • Kyle Cung
  • Kyle Nguyen
  • Miya Lopez
  • Vanessa Avalos
Go, Tigers!
The events involved encompassed the following five subject areas, with specific content designated by grade-level standards:
  • Essay (one to two written pages)
  • Literature (7th grade: Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan, 8th grade: Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis)
  • Mathematics
  • Science (7th grade: Physical Principals, Structure & Functions; 8th grade: Chemistry)
  • Social Science (7th grade: Medieval & Early Modern Times including Renaissance & Reformation, 8th grade: Civil War and Reconstruction)

Each grade level team consisted of nine students from each of the following grade point average (GPA) categories:

Honor (GPA 3.75-4.00)*
Scholastic (GPA 3.00-3.74)*
Varsity (GPA 1.00-2.99) *

*All grades were assessed on an equal value; remedial and accelerated classes counted the same as ‘regular’ classes. P.E., instrumental & vocal music, and technology classes were not included. Only academic electives were included in calculating the GPA.
All nine team members were eligible for individual awards in the five subject areas, excluding the Super Quiz. Only the top two cumulative scores in each GPA category counted toward the team total.
The Academic Pentathlon Scrimmage was held on Saturday, January 12, 2013, at the Orange County Department of Education in Costa Mesa. The final nine team members were selected based on performance at this event.
The county-wide Academic Pentathlon Competition was held on March 23.
Art Pedroza Editor
Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.
Art Pedroza

Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

View Comments

  • So proud of our students! I made one correction on the webpage this morning, after receiving an email. Celina Olivares replaced Alejandra Osorio at the competition. Thank you for posting our news!
    Sherry Skipper-Spurgeon
    Math Teacher

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