Part of something important

Gary Moskowitz

LOS ANGELES -- Syed Azam Mehdi is finishing his senior year at Burbank

High School on a high note.

Mehdi took first place overall in the varsity category of this year’s

state-level Academic Decathlon, a three-day event that took place last

month at the Los Angeles International Airport Marriott Hotel, UCLA

Pauley Pavilion and Loyola Marymount University.

“It was a life-learning experience, something you can’t get in

school,” Mehdi said. “It was so thrilling. I felt like I could make our

coach proud and sort of pay her back for her hard work.”

Mehdi is one of eight members of the school’s Academic Decathlon Team,

which, after placing third overall and bringing home 50 medals from the

county level competition, placed seventh overall at the statewide

competition and received 28 individual medals.

The team is made up of three groups of competitors and two support

teams.

In the honors division is Emilia Avanes, Erik Swanson and Anna

Zikranova; in the scholastic division is Roman Groisberg and Ryan Hom; in

the varsity division is Syed Azam Mehdi and Anup Shah; in the super

support team is Esther Chung, Kathy Chung and Agnes Lee; and in the

support team is Kelsey Browne, Anthony Chen, Melinda Grodsky, Joanna Han,

Selina Hartonians, Jill Hensiek, Alisa Hiranjaruvong, Richard Huh, Brian

Hwang, Grace Ilasco, Chang Kang, Patrick Kim, Jade Ku, Chris Lee,

Kristine Melikyan, Raj Moudgil, Sandy Park, Alex Pesterev and Tara

Wessel.

Valerie Beidelman, English teacher and academic decathlon team coach

for Burbank High, said gearing up for the competition takes thousands of

hours of studying and preparation.

“The kids put their heart and soul into their work,” Beidelman said.

Beidelman added that members of the decathlon team have already

started studying for next year. They will meet periodically throughout

the summer, twice weekly during the year and every day as next year’s

competition approaches.

The decathlon tests students on 10 subjects that include biology, art,

music, economics, philosophy, literature and third-year college-level

math.

“I felt like I was part of something big and important,” said Roman

Groisberg, 15, a sophomore. “At state, it’s huge, and it just blows up in

your face being surrounded by all the brain power.”

Beidelman has been invited to Sacramento by State Sen. Jack Scott

(D-Burbank) Wednesday to receive an award for her contributions to

students at the school.