Alumni
The skills, friendships, and competitive spirit you built in Academic Decathlon don't end at graduation. Stay connected with the community that shaped you.
Stay Connected
Thousands of Texans have competed in Academic Decathlon, Octathlon, Pentathlon, and the Lone Star Challenge over the program's 35+ year history. Many alumni go on to careers in education, law, medicine, business, and public service — and many credit their Decathlon experience as a turning point.
We love hearing from former competitors. Share your story, reconnect with old teammates, and find out how you can give back to the program that helped shape you.
By the Numbers
Alumni Testimonials
Hear from former competitors about how Academic Decathlon shaped their path.
It was the most character-building experience of my life. I owe much of my success to my coaches Ruben Peña and Anthony Gonzalez and the friends on my team who all became a second family to me. This was also one of the most stressful things I’ve ever done, but it prepared me for the stresses of life that followed. ACDEC showed me how tough I really am. I often say to myself, ‘I got through acdec, I can get through this!’
Adriana Vela
Full-time artist · UTSA ’23
Acadec was an incredible opportunity that I’m glad I didn’t pass up! The impact it had on my life was immense, as the people I met while competing are some of my most cherished friends. I really enjoyed the time I spent with my teammates; all the study-sessions and times we spent together were a lot of fun! It was also really cool to meet competitors from other schools. It was a great way to form rivalries between ourselves to see who could outscore who. I still maintain close contact with a lot of the people I competed with, so Acadec had a positive impact in that regard.
Sali Bekir
Law clerk at Shamoun & Norman LLP · UTA ’21
Decathlon gave me some of my best friends and my fondest memories from high school. It was a rare occasion for me to receive academic validation while studying interesting topics that might not have been covered in a regular curriculum. To me, it kinda feels like an inside joke that we are all in on, and the thrill of competing will stick with me for a lifetime. It gave me the opportunity to win scholarships, which I have used towards my college education, and it taught me what I was capable of.
Vienna Cheng
Student transit dispatcher, Texas A&M ’27