By Elizabeth Contreras
VYPE: What grade are you in and how long have you been a part of the academic team?
Morgan Dennie: I am in the 10th grade and have been part of the district’s Academic Team since the fourth grade.
VYPE: What initially drew you to join the academic team?
MD: I was drawn to Academic Team because of my older brother, who had joined Academic Team four years before me.
VYPE: What is your favorite subject to compete in?
MD: My favorite subject to compete in is Math. The math questions are great introductions to broader concepts in mathematics, and it’s helped me focus more in math class itself.
VYPE: How do you prepare for competitions?
MD: Preparing for competitions has always been about relaxing and keeping your mind active. When you study you have a chance to retain information which, at any time, could pop up again; when your mind is active and in a state of calm, it ends up getting this information faster.
VYPE: What tough team challenge did you face, and how did you handle it?
MD: A challenge I faced as team captain is being able to utilize every member of the team. When you look at numbers and stats, you’ll feel more inclined to just keep your “best” players, but I’ve seen that going against this mentality ends up benefitting your team for the better.
VYPE: What is the most rewarding part of being on the academic team?
MD: The most awarding part of Academic Team is always getting a problem right.
VYPE: What skills have you gained from participating in academic competitions?
MD: The main skills that can be gained from competitions like these are larger knowledge, faster motor skills, and improved memory and problem-solving.
VYPE: Who has influenced your academic growth the most?
MD: Varsity team captain James Durst, whose high scores on the ACT and PSAT have earned him national recognition and have made me focus more on doing well on tests, or my brother, who encouraged me to join the academic team.
VYPE: What is a memorable moment from your time on the team?
MD: I once got inducted into a secret society after practice… but you didn’t hear that from me.
