Pearland ISD Academic Decathlon Competitors Celebrate National Championship and Individual Medals
![Academic Decathlon Winners]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1779386039/pearlandisdorg/dqvhqjgqwfiaqymimpbw/Academic_Decathlon_news2026.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1779386039/pearlandisdorg/dqvhqjgqwfiaqymimpbw/Academic_Decathlon_news2026.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1779386039/pearlandisdorg/dqvhqjgqwfiaqymimpbw/Academic_Decathlon_news2026.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1779386039/pearlandisdorg/dqvhqjgqwfiaqymimpbw/Academic_Decathlon_news2026.jpg","width":1000}])
Pearland ISD students proved they are among the brightest in the nation after a spectacular showing at last month's Academic Decathlon national competition.
Turner High School’s Ryleigh Rick and Dawson High School’s Petrov Kochunov proudly represented the district as individual national competitors in Garden Grove, California. Kochunov took home a bronze medal in Art and a silver medal in Literature. Meanwhile, Pearland High School’s team took on the nation's best in the online national division. The team dominated the competition to win first place, securing a national championship title, individual medals, and college scholarships for every team member.
- Diona Jom earned gold medals in Literature, Music, Art, and Essay, a silver medal in Economics, and bronze medals in Science and Social Science. She earned second place overall in the large school honors division.
- Miranda Medel earned silver medals in Art and Essay in the large school honors division.
- Janvi Shah earned a gold medal in Science and a Silver medal in Music in the large school honors division.
- Chloe Salazar earned a gold medal in Art and bronze medals in Music, Economics, and Social Science in the large school scholastic division.
- Esteban Vela earned gold medals in Music, Science, and Essay and bronze medals in Literature, Economics, and Social Science. He earned second place overall in the large school scholastic division.
- Janie Paige Macian earned gold medals in Math and Essay, silver medals in Music, Science, and Art, and bronze medals in Literature and Economics. She earned second place overall in the large school varsity division.
- Mateo Munoz earned gold medals in Literature, Music, Science, Art, Economics, and Social Science and a silver medal in Essay. He earned first place overall in the large school varsity division.
- Ryder Norris earned silver in Literature, and bronze medals in Music, Science, Economics, and Social Science. He earned third place overall in the large school varsity division.