rd, 2017, I had the opportunity to participate as a judge in the Kingman Academy High School Academic Decathlon. This competition encompasses speeches, resumes, question and answer sessions relating personal opinion to a subject studied during the school year. This year it was World War II. There is some classroom time spent learning the subject to be discussed in the competition, BUT most of the work and training is done on the student’s own time. It is their responsibility to build their skills and knowledge. The participants ages range from 15 to 18 years old and come from all over the State. I have judged in the past and every year I participate I am so blown away by the excellence and polish of the young men and women participating and sitting across the table from the judges. They remind me of my sons when they were that age, dressed up in business attire and looking too young to be thinking of going out into the world to make their way. I was so impressed, and after the competition I left feeling the future is in good hands.”