2025 -- H 6358

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

RECOGNIZING AND CONGRATULATING THE MEMBERS AND COACH OF THE

WHEELER SCHOOL TEAM ON THEIR 1ST PLACE VICTORY AT THE 42ND RHODE

ISLAND ACADEMIC DECATHLON

     Introduced By: Representatives Shekarchi, Blazejewski, McNamara, Chippendale,
Paplauskas, Ackerman, Ajello, Fogarty, Fellela, and Shallcross Smith

     Date Introduced: May 22, 2025

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Academic Decathlon was co-founded by John Howell,

publisher of the Warwick Beacon, in December of 1983, and is open to all public, private and

parochial high schools in Rhode Island; and

     WHEREAS, This rigorous competition tests the brain power and overall knowledge and

thinking skills of high school entrants from across the State in ten subject areas ranging from art

to math, as well as economics, essay, interview, language and literature, music, science, social

science, and speech; and

     WHEREAS, The theme for the 42nd annual Rhode Island Academic Decathlon was “Our

Changing Climate” and was held on March 2, 2025, at Bryant University, with seventeen Rhode

Island high schools and 238 students competing. The Decathlon includes both a team competition

component and awards Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals to distinguish individuals for their

outstanding achievements; and

     WHEREAS, The Wheeler School regained the #1 title for the first time since 2008, by

scoring more than 34,000 points. Members of the winning team include: ChiChi Minami, Selina

Kao, Philip Spradlin, Isabelle Crescenzi, Promise Egunjobi, Diya Kinikar, Thomas Hutchinson,

and Krishn Mansharamani. The Wheeler team was superbly led by Coach Dayna Cueva Alegria;

and

     WHEREAS, Two Wheeler School team members won Gold medals, Philip Spradlin won

Gold in both the Art and Social Science categories, and Promise Egunjobi won Gold in Math. In

addition, ChiChi Minami won Bronze in Art and Social Science, Philip Spradlin won Silver in

Math, and Selina Kao won Bronze in Speech. The team had the honor of representing Rhode

Island in the United States Academic Decathlon which was held May 1st - 3rd in Des Moines,

Iowa; and

     WHEREAS, It is essential and fitting to recognize our youth and to celebrate their

accomplishments. The Wheeler School team members exemplify everything that young people

can achieve, and they are truly deserving of our recognition and praise; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

congratulates the Wheeler School team and their coach on their victory at the 2025 Rhode Island

Academic Decathlon. We moreover wish them much happiness and success in all their future

endeavors; 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 Dayna Cueva Alegria, Coach of the Decathlon

Team for the Wheeler School.

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