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H8552
2026 -- H 8552
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LC006144
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
CONGRATULATING AND RECOGNIZING THE MEMBERS AND COACH OF THE
WHEELER SCHOOL TEAM ON THEIR 1ST PLACE VICTORY AT THE 43RD RHODE
ISLAND ACADEMIC DECATHLON AND CONGRATULATING THE TEAM ON THEIR
SUCCESS AT THE NATIONAL ACADEMIC DECATHLON ON APRIL 23-25, 2026
Introduced By:
Representatives Solomon, Blazejewski, Kazarian, Casimiro, Casey,
Chippendale, O'Brien, DeSimone, McNamara, and McEntee
Date Introduced:
May 14, 2026
Referred To:
House read and passed
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WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Academic Decathlon was co-founded by John Howell,
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publisher of the Warwick Beacon, in December of 1983, and is open to all public, private and
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parochial high schools in Rhode Island; and
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WHEREAS, This rigorous competition tests the brain power and overall knowledge and
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thinking skills of high school entrants from across the State in ten subject areas ranging from art
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to math, as well as economics, essay, interview, language and literature, music, science, social
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science, and speech; and
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WHEREAS, The 43rd annual Rhode Island Academic Decathlon was held on March 1,
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2026, at Bryant University, with seventeen Rhode Island high schools and more than 200 students
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competing. The Decathlon included both a team competition component and also awards Gold,
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Silver, and Bronze medals to distinguished individuals for their outstanding achievements; and
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WHEREAS, The theme for this year's Academic Decathlon was “The Roaring
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Twenties”, and it focused on the history, culture, and rapid changes that occurred in the 1920s,
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across ten subject categories; and
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WHEREAS, The Wheeler School repeated as Rhode Island Academic Decathlon
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Champions in 2026. Members of the winning team included Chichi Minami, Philip Spradlin,
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Daniel Shea, Angela D’Amico, Kiara Jin, Austin Nolan, Amelia Collins, Thomas Hutchinson and
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Shay Smith. The Wheeler team was superbly led by Coach Dayna Cueva Alegria; and
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WHEREAS, The Senior Gold Medal winners at the 43rd Rhode Island Academic
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Decathlon were Donovan Turner from Classical High School, Saige Hodges and Sydney Pavao
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from Coventry High School, Kristi Prestly from Cranston West High School, Rosalind Bassen-
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Alexander and Savanna Tickner from East Greenwich High School, Amir Depina from North
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Providence High School, Preston Maong from South Kingstown High School, Jaylene Le from
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Toll Gate High School, and Thomas Hutchinson, Chichi Minami, and Philip Spradlin from the
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Wheeler School; and
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WHEREAS, At the National Academic Decathlon finals, Wheeler School team member
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Daniel Shea earned a Gold Medal in Science, a Silver Medal in Essay and a Bronze Medal in
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Math, and fellow team member Philip Spradlin earned a Silver Medal in Math; and
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WHEREAS, It is fitting and essential to recognize our youth and to celebrate their
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accomplishments. The Wheeler School team members exemplify everything that young people
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can achieve, and they are truly deserving of our recognition and praise; now, therefore be it
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RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby
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congratulates the Wheeler School team and their coach on their repeat victory at the 2026 Rhode
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Island Academic Decathlon; and be it further
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RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to
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transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Dayna Cueva Alegria, Coach of the Decathlon
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Team for the Wheeler School.
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