Pictures from top to bottom: View of finals competition stage at Fullerton College. 2nd: Final four schools get the last question. 3rd: Jesse getting ready to answer a question. Bottom: Mr. Santos and Jesse receive fourth place awards from Susan Kinney of Castle Press
PIASC

ISTA Makes PIASC Decathlon Finals Finishes 4th

The ISTA decathlon team qualified for the PIASC Deacathlon finals. Jessica Bautista, Jesse Fiorini, Angelina Gonzalez and Nieves Yolanda Urbina composed the team that competed in the PIASC Academic/Technical Decathlon Semi-finals, held at PIASC headquarters in the City of Commerce. The team had been studying for the last two months preparing for the semi-final written exam. The top five schools were then given the opportunity to have one student representing their school compete for over $17,000.00 in scholarships and prizes.

ISTA's Jesse Fiorini represented ISTA in the finals held at Fullerton College. Jesse got off to a good start and then ran into difficulties answering some of the questions. These errors cost him valuable points. He seemed to become hesitant to ring in afterwards playing extremely conservatively, Jesse finished fourth. He was given a trophy for himself as well as a $500.00 cash scholarship. The academy received a plaque for its wall and a certificate for $500.00.

About 64 academy students went to the competition to support Jesse. The decathlon and career fair was hosted by the Printing Industries Association of Southern California. In all there were over 500 high school students in attendance. representing 10 high schools from Southern California.

Mr. Santos, Decathlon Team coach and Academy Lead Teacher said, "I am very proud of Jesse. It is easy to sit in the stands and criticize what one should or could have done, but it took a lot of studying, sacrifice and courage to stand on that stage and compete. Competition and being able to compete is something we stress in the academy, Jesse and the rest of the team members represented ISTA quite well. I am proud of them all."

When we asked Jesse his thoughts on the competition he was frustrated. "I felt that I let everyone and myself down. I got nervous up there, but I am only a junior, next year I will be back and better prepared."

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