Group photo (L-R): Kaitlyn Rockholt, Nicole Nguyen, Tynique Williams, Audrey Robinson, Cienna Christie, Sovanmaklika Peou
More than 340 6th, 7th and 8th grade students from all over Merced County, competed in the 2020 MCOE Academic Pentathlon, on March 12.
The annual event is a demonstration of academic knowledge and cooperative learning skills.
Nicole Nguyen, an 8th grader from Cruickshank Middle School, in Merced City School District, earned the highly coveted 1st Place Overall Top Scoring Student award.
Fellow Cruickshank Tiger, Kaitlyn Rockholt achieved 3rd overall.
The competition was held at the MCOE Downtown Professional Development Center, before social distancing guidelines prevented large groups from gathering.
Cruickshank has not participated in this event for several years, but still managed to place 5th for the Top Team award.
The team consists of Cienna Christie, Nicole Nguyen, Maklika Peou, Audrey Robinson, Kaitlyn Rockholt and Tynique Williams.
The girls studied together during their school lunch period and on weekends, in the last two weeks before the competition.
“Cruickshank is very proud of the team and the success they had this year,” Principal Jerod Garst said.
“The team and coach Mrs. Wendy May worked very hard and it is great to see their success.”
Additional awards include: Literature and Fine Arts, 8th Grade Honor, 2nd place, Nicole Nguyen; 3rd place, Kaitlyn Rockholt; Literature and Fine Arts, 8th Grade Scholastic, 1st place, Tynique Williams; Math, 8th Grade Honor, 1st place, Kaitlyn Rockholt; 3rd place, Nicole Nguyen; Math, 8th Grade Varsity, 3rd place, Cienna Christie; Science, 8th Grade Honor, 2nd place, Nicole Nguyen; 3rd place, Katilyn Rockholt; Science, 8th Grade Scholastic, Tynique Williams; Social Science, 8th Grade Honor, 1st place, Nicole Nguyen; 3rd place, Kaitlyn Rockholt; Social Science, 8th Grade Varsity, 5th place, Cienna Christie; and Top Scoring Students, 8th Grade Scholastic, 4th place Tynique Williams.
This year’s theme was “In Sickness and In Health: An Exploration of Illness and Wellness.”
Each team took four tests, demonstrating their knowledge in fine arts, literature, math, science and social science.
Another event, Super Quiz would have taken place in April but was cancelled over COVID-19 concerns.