Academic Competitions

Join Together with Scholars, Competitors, Achievers

At GAC, we understand that students are unique in their gifts, interests, and abilities. We offer academic competitions that challenge students to develop their God-given talents. Each team builds community among its members by stressing the importance of collaboration. Of course, student minds are sharpened through stimulating, challenging tasks that enhance what they are learning in the classroom. Each option involves engaging competition with area schools; providing students with the opportunity to apply their knowledge; and critical thinking skills under motivating time constraints. Throughout the school’s history, GAC students have achieved high levels of success in earning regional and state championships.

Contact

Matt Fincher
Director of Academic Competitions

Academic Teams

Academic Team

Students compete in teams of four to five, answering questions concerning subjects such as science, literature, history, fine arts, mathematics, mythology, social science, religion, and philosophy, as well as current events and popular culture. Students are encouraged to explore topics of interest as they develop deeper cross-curricular and multicultural understanding.

Academic Team encourages students to love learning, to grow in their understanding of academic subjects, and to collaborate so that the whole team becomes greater than the sum of its parts.

Contact: Matt Fincher - Varsity, JV; John Connel - MS

2026 - NAQT Nationals Qualifier (Varsity)
2025 - State Runner-Up, NAQT Nationals Qualifier (Varsity)
2024 - State Runner-Up, NAQT Nationals Qualifier (Varsity)
2022 - State Champions (JV); 3rd in State, NAQT Nationals Qualifier (V)
2021 - State Champions (JV)

Great Readers Bowl

HOSA-Future Health Professionals

HOSA – Future Health Professionals is a student-led organization for those interested in healthcare, leadership, and service. Members work together to prepare for competitive events that test skills in areas such as medical knowledge, teamwork, public speaking, and health education. Each student participates in one or more events, either individually or in small teams, with opportunities ranging from health science exams and skill demonstrations to service projects and creative competitions. Preparation begins in the fall, with regional, state, and international conferences taking place throughout the school year.

Students in grades 9–12 are invited to join and develop skills that prepare them for future careers in health and medicine.

Contact: Dr. Esther Miranda

Literary Team

The GHSA Literary competition is one of the most eclectic avenues of competition available to GAC students. With categories in Essay, Extemporaneous Speaking, Oral Interpretation, Male Quartet, Female Trio, and Male and Female Solo, this competition brings together students from all corners of the GAC student body to work towards Region and State-level championship, both as individuals and as a team. Significant benefits of competing in the Literary competition include not only the possibility of winning a GHSA championship in a specific area but also the camaraderie built between students who likely would not have much interaction throughout a normal school year.

Contact: Marcus Miller

2025 - Region Champions, Class AAA 3rd Place in State
2024 - Region Champions, Class AAAAA State Champions
2023 - Region Champions, Class AAAAA State Champions
2022 - Region Champion
2021 - Region Champion
2021 - Individual State Champions: Sophia Nguyen, Personal Essay; Georgia Thomas, Girls Solo
2019 - Individual State Champion: Claudia Butler, Personal Essay
2018 - Personal Essay - State Champion: Claudia Butler, Team - Region 7-AAA Runner-Up

Math Team

Our Math Team competes in six to eight tournaments per year, including events at schools such as Rockdale Magnet, Mercer University, Luella High School, Lassiter High School, Augusta University, Columbus State University, Georgia Tech, and Middle Georgia State University - to name a few. We practice weekly, learning advanced problem-solving techniques and delving into topics that are typically reserved for post-secondary studies.

Contact: Michael Washington - Varsity; Frankie Leonardo - JV

Mock Trial

Mock Trial is a Georgia high school activity sponsored by the Georgia Bar Association. The competition is interscholastic, and we prepare a team of 14 students (at a minimum) to go to "court" with a fictional case used by all high schools. The competition takes place in actual Georgia Superior Court courtrooms. The team is taught by professional attorneys, and the student roles include both witnesses and lawyers. Students learn to argue both sides of the case. There is a Region competition where the top three schools advance to the District competition; the top school then advances to a State tournament in May.

Contact: Jami Denton and Shawn Davies

2026 - Region Champions
2025 - 3rd Place in State (All Classifications)
2022 - Region Champions
2021 - State Tournament Qualifier

Science Olympiad Team

The Science Olympiad Team consists of students whose interest in science unites them in a team effort to master 22 activities. These activities include building models to compete with, preparing for competition labs, problem solving, and engaging in testing. Each team member will participate in 3-4 of these events in a subgroup of 2-3 students for the competition. Preparation begins in the fall and statewide competitions take place during the winter. Students from all grade levels (9-12) are invited to be a part of the team.

Coaches: Dr. Betsy Rodgers and Christine Wahl

2026 - State Tournament Qualifier

Spartan Speech & Debate

Spartan Speech team members compete individually in categories such as Extemporaneous Speaking, Original Oratory, Informative Speaking, or Impromptu events. For Extemporaneous Speaking and Impromptu, students must prepare with additional research and practice thinking critically, as they must choose from a variety of possible topics at each event. For Original Oratory and Informative Speaking, students prepare a carefully scripted speech that includes quality research and informative material that aims to persuade or inform the audience about a specific topic of societal concern.

In Spartan Debate students participate in the Public Forum Debate competition, in which teams of two students research a resolution that changes every two months and must prepare to advocate for both the "Pro" and "Con" sides at each tournament they attend. All speech and debate events require students to prepare with research, writing, and timed speaking.

Coach: Kiara Harris

Honor Societies

Beta Club

Mu Alpha Theta

Mu Alpha Theta is the national high school honor society dedicated to inspiring keen interest in mathematics, developing strong scholarship in the subject, and promoting the enjoyment of mathematics. At GAC, students are invited to Mu Alpha Theta in the Spring of the year they take honors pre-calculus. To remain a member, each member must complete 5 service hours per school year, which are typically obtained through peer tutoring.

There are so many academic competitions that are available at GAC for students in a number of different interests from science to math to speech and debate to academic team. There's a variety of fields to get involved in.

Matt Fincher, Director of Academic Competitions