WOODLAND HILLS : President to Honor Decathlon Team

A nine-student team from El Camino Real High School in Woodland Hills, which placed fourth in this year’s national academic decathlon, will be honored by President Bush this week at a ceremony in Washington, it was announced Monday.

The President will congratulate the El Camino team and eight others from around the country during a ceremony Thursday in the White House Rose Garden, said Ann Joynt, executive director of the United States Academic Decathlon.

El Camino’s invitation from the White House came somewhat as a surprise, she said. In the past, only the top three finishers in the national competition have been honored by the President.

But Friday, the White House extended the invitation to regional champions as well, Joynt said. El Camino, representing California, captured the Western Region championship in the national contest, held this month in Boise, Ida.

“We’re all pretty excited,” said Mark Johnson, one of the team’s coaches, who will also attend the gathering. “I don’t think any of the kids have been to D. C.”

Also invited were students from Texas, who won the national championship, and teams from Alabama, Arizona, Illinois, Nebraska, New Jersey, Ohio and Wisconsin.