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Deaf Plantation students will head to Academic Bowl in Washington D.C. - Plantation / Sunrise - MiamiHerald.com
Five students from South Plantation High School will head to Washington, D.C., in April to take part in an event that comes once in a lifetime.
The five have won the right to compete in the Gallaudet University Deaf and Hard of Hearing Academic Bowl.
''It is a great opportunity for them,'' said Keith Muller, head coach of the academic bowl team and deaf and hard-of-hearing family counselor at South Plantation High. ``They get to meet a whole multicultural group of deaf and hard of hearing teens like themselves in a college setting.''
The two-day competition will be at Gallaudet, the only liberal arts college for the deaf in the nation.
Even so, the five-member team is already practicing up to six days a week to prepare for questions in geography, mathematics, history, science and technology, pop culture, deaf culture, literature, fine arts and sports.
''We study and teach each other different subjects,'' said team co-captain April Mitchell, 18, of Lauderdale Lakes.
It is the first time this South Plantation team has been invited to compete on the national level. Another squad competed in 2005, but they graduated.
Michelle Morris is ready for her chance.
''I can't wait to go up there and pit myself against great minds. It is intense,'' said Michelle, 17, the senior captain who's been on the team the past three years.
She sees it as an opportunity to change the perception that some deaf people don't challenge themselves.
''I think we are setting a good example for the entire deaf community here,'' said Michelle, who plans to attend Gallaudet in the fall.
South Plantation High is a cluster school for deaf and hard of hearing students from across Broward County. They won the right to compete nationally after coming in third out of 16 teams in regional competitions in February.
They'll now go up against the top three finishers from five different regions.
''I know it'll be harder, and we'll have to study more, but we will try our best to have fun and win,'' said Matthew Diamond, 15, a sophomore from Davie.
Apart from the competition, Muller said, the team also benefits from meeting deaf people who are professors in college, as well as high school peers from around the country.
He said it also provides a boost to self-esteem, social and developmental growth.
''After coming back from regionals, I have more confidence and motivation,'' said freshman Joshua Metellus, 15, of Miramar, who said he joined the team to challenge himself.
Through an interpreter, fellow freshman Francisco He Joa admitted he originally did not want to join the team but did so through Muller's persuasion.
After his first experience in competition, the Margate teen had a change of heart.
''I tried to not join, but I accepted to go. Now I try to study more and more deeply other subjects,'' he said.
The team tries to raise $5,000 each year to cover costs of events and competition. They have gotten most of the way there this year, thanks to contributions from teachers, the Kiwanis Club of Plantation, the Women's Club of Plantation, the Quota Club of Plantation, and the Western High School ASL Club.
They are still trying to raise the remaining $1,000 to cover ancillary costs for the trip.
Five students from South Plantation High School will head to Washington, D.C., in April to take part in an event that comes once in a lifetime.
The five have won the right to compete in the Gallaudet University Deaf and Hard of Hearing Academic Bowl.
''It is a great opportunity for them,'' said Keith Muller, head coach of the academic bowl team and deaf and hard-of-hearing family counselor at South Plantation High. ``They get to meet a whole multicultural group of deaf and hard of hearing teens like themselves in a college setting.''
The two-day competition will be at Gallaudet, the only liberal arts college for the deaf in the nation.
Even so, the five-member team is already practicing up to six days a week to prepare for questions in geography, mathematics, history, science and technology, pop culture, deaf culture, literature, fine arts and sports.
''We study and teach each other different subjects,'' said team co-captain April Mitchell, 18, of Lauderdale Lakes.
It is the first time this South Plantation team has been invited to compete on the national level. Another squad competed in 2005, but they graduated.
Michelle Morris is ready for her chance.
''I can't wait to go up there and pit myself against great minds. It is intense,'' said Michelle, 17, the senior captain who's been on the team the past three years.
She sees it as an opportunity to change the perception that some deaf people don't challenge themselves.
''I think we are setting a good example for the entire deaf community here,'' said Michelle, who plans to attend Gallaudet in the fall.
South Plantation High is a cluster school for deaf and hard of hearing students from across Broward County. They won the right to compete nationally after coming in third out of 16 teams in regional competitions in February.
They'll now go up against the top three finishers from five different regions.
''I know it'll be harder, and we'll have to study more, but we will try our best to have fun and win,'' said Matthew Diamond, 15, a sophomore from Davie.
Apart from the competition, Muller said, the team also benefits from meeting deaf people who are professors in college, as well as high school peers from around the country.
He said it also provides a boost to self-esteem, social and developmental growth.
''After coming back from regionals, I have more confidence and motivation,'' said freshman Joshua Metellus, 15, of Miramar, who said he joined the team to challenge himself.
Through an interpreter, fellow freshman Francisco He Joa admitted he originally did not want to join the team but did so through Muller's persuasion.
After his first experience in competition, the Margate teen had a change of heart.
''I tried to not join, but I accepted to go. Now I try to study more and more deeply other subjects,'' he said.
The team tries to raise $5,000 each year to cover costs of events and competition. They have gotten most of the way there this year, thanks to contributions from teachers, the Kiwanis Club of Plantation, the Women's Club of Plantation, the Quota Club of Plantation, and the Western High School ASL Club.
They are still trying to raise the remaining $1,000 to cover ancillary costs for the trip.