Strong Showing for Chicago Students at National Academic Decathlon

West40 congratulates all of the Illinois schools that participated in the 2025 US Academic Decathlon National Championships last week in Des Moines, Iowa. Students brought home dozens of individual medals and Illinois teams placed among the highest in the competition.

During the competition, 72 Teams competed in person in 5 divisions, 84 students competed in person as individuals, and 33 teams competed online. 

Schools representing Illinois included Whitney Young Magnet High School, Lane Tech College Prep High School, Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences, and Amundsen High School. Results are listed below:

• Whitney Young Magnet HS, Division I

  • 5th place in Division I, 5th place overall

  • 18 individual medals

• Lane Tech, Division II

  • 1st place in Division II, 10th place overall

  • 28 individual medals

  • 1st place, Super Quiz Team Competition, Div II

  • Drew Hogan - 1st place OVERALL Decathlon, Div II, Honor Student

  • Lin Urizar - 2nd place OVERALL Decathlon, Div II, Scholastic Student

• The Chicago HS for Agricultural Sciences, Division IV

  • 9th place in Division IV

  • 10 individual medals

  • Catherine Lyons - 3rd place OVERALL Decathlon, Div IV, Honor Student

• Whitney Young Magnet HS, Individual Division

  • 9 students competing as Individuals

  • 23 individual medals

  • Charles Johnigan - 3rd place OVERALL Decathlon, Ind Div, Honor Student

  • Chris Vazquez - 2nd place OVERALL Decathlon, Ind Div, Varsity Student

  • Shaan Tandon - 3rd place OVERALL Decathlon, Ind Div, Varsity Student

• Amundsen High School, Online Large Schools Division

  • 6th place

In recent years, West40 assumed a leadership role in the Illinois High School Academic Decathlon. This event allows students from across the state to compete for a chance to represent Illinois at the national competition.

“West40 exemplifies our mission statement by supporting these student activities in our region, state, and nation and making opportunities like this possible for our young people,” said Tammy Raffen, who serves as West40’s Student Activity Coordinator and the Illinois Academic Decathlon State Director.

Raffen said it is her goal to grow these programs each to give even more students an opportunity to be involved.

Schools that are interested in participating in next year’s Illinois High School Academic Decathlon are encouraged to email Raffen at traffen@west40.org or visit the United States Academic Decathlon website for more information.