The academic team in the deaf and hard of hearing program at Starr’s Mill High just missed going to the semifinals at this year’s academic bowl sponsored by Gallaudet University.

Team members Maggie Appel, Kevin Rance, Ryan Salezadeh and Adrianna D’elia finished fifth in the Southeast Region Academic Bowl for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing held recently at Berkmar High in Lilburn. They were tied to go to the semifinals but the decision by total points placed them behind the Atlanta Area School for the Deaf, giving the team a fifth place standing.

The team is coached by Cindy Hartpence, deaf and hard of hearing teacher at Starr’s Mill, Traci Richardson, sign language interpreter at Starr’s Mill and Brittany Gailey, student coach.

Gallaudet University established its first academic bowl for deaf and hard of hearing students in 1997 with the goal of promoting academic competition among school teams. Quiz tournaments, where teams of high school students compete against each other by answering questions on a wide variety of topics, have gained wide popularity among high schools and colleges throughout the country. Competitions are held at the local, regional and national level.

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