Polk County Public Schools
A team of Polk County high school students from public and private schools finished in second place this past weekend during the 23rd Annual Commissioner’s Academic Challenge held in Lake Buena Vista. Polk finished in second place in its division among 19 school districts with an enrollment of more than 40,000 students.
This was the third time in seven years that Polk was state runner-up. Polk also took second place awards in 2004 and 2002. Polk won the state high school academic championship in 2007 and 1989.
Pinellas County won the 2008 Academic Challenge and Brevard County finished in third place behind Pinellas and Polk.
Polk’s 2008 state runner-up team was composed of Mark Kavesh (Bartow International Baccalaureate), Christopher Lioi (Bartow International Baccalaureate), Spencer Phillips (Lakeland High), Cory Pollard (All Saints’ Academy), Matthew Stoia (All Saints’ Academy) and Elizabeth Young (Harrison School for the Arts). Polk’s coaches were Peggy Frisbie and Chris Guice of Bartow High.
Teams tested their knowledge in mathematics, science, language arts, social studies, foreign languages, technology, fine arts and humanities.
Christopher Lioi, a senior at Bartow International Baccalaureate who resides in Winter Haven, was named to the All-Florida team during the competition and will be part of the Florida team that competes against other states during the Panasonic Academic Challenge. The Panasonic Academic Challenge, the equivalent of the national academic championship, will be held in Lake Buena Vista from June 7 to 10. Lioi, also a National Merit scholarship finalist, was also a member of Polk’s 2007 state champion.
Information: Peggy Harrod, (863) 968-5168.