LOS ANGELES–For the second year in a row–Rose and Alex Pilibos Armenian School in Hollywood won third place in the overall scoring of the Southern California Private Schools Academic Decathlon. Pilibos also won first place in Division II competition.
A team of nine students competed in 10 events–including speech–interview–art–music–math–economics–language and literature–essay–social sciences and super quiz.
This year’s winning Pilibos team included seniors Melanie Vartabedian and Antranik Touloumdjian; juniors Akop Seksenyan–Annie Baghedjian–Sylvia Barseghian–Suren Hazarian–Xavier Gutierrez and Nairi Chopourian; and sophomore Amir Kasouha. The students earned 27 medals–nine gold–10 silver and eight bronze.
"The competition this year was very fierce–especially in our division–and we are very proud of our students," said principal Viken Yacoubian.
"Their continued success is a reflection of our rigorous academic program and our emphasis on discipline and hard work," added Yacoubian.
"To be first in our division for a second year in a row is very exciting. This second victory shows that we are a school to contend with," continued Yacoubian.
The team’s coach Jacque Mishler also expressed her pride in the students by saying–"The other schools in our division were also winning a lot of medals–and for a moment I must admit that I had some doubts whether we would be able to pull it off. But my team never once let me down and I am so very very proud of them."
Other teachers who provided invaluable help were Harout Arsen and Azniv Shahmelikian in mathematics–Christian Kiley in speech–George Nanoski in super quiz and Kimberly Parker-Nanoski in art.
"I can’t thank the teachers enough for all of their help and hard work," added Yacoubian. "Our dedicated faculty sets an excellent example for our students–and they are the foundation on which our entire academic program rests."