The Bishop Hendricken Hawks are on a hot streak; members of the school’s Academic Decathlon team, who recently were the winners of the 2017 Division II Academic Decathlon National Championship after emerging victorious in the state competition, were honored by a slew of state leaders at the State House on Thursday afternoon.

The team, coached by Sister Carol Anne Murray, and their accomplishments consist of Steven Huang, who took home gold medals in music, math and science, silver in economics, speech and essay, and bronze in art in the A division; Dylan Temel, who won gold medals in economics and speech, silver in art, and bronze in music, math, science, and social science in the A division; Mitchell Boyer, who won a gold medal in essay, and silver in speech and science in the B division; Connor Milson, who won bronze in language and literature in the B division; Alden Pratt, who took home bronze medals in essay, science, and speech in the B division; Ryan Brady, who won gold medals in economics, music, language, literature, science and social science, silver in art and speech, and bronze in essay in the C division; Darragh Harkin, who won a gold medal in interview in the B division; Jaidan Idarraga, who won a bronze medal in math in the B division; and Cory Morris, who “ably assisted” the A division team. Huang and Temel were first and second respectively in the A division, Boyer and Pratt were second and third respectively in the B division, and Brady placed first in the C division.

First, the students were honored in a ceremony in the State Room, where speakers including Speaker Nicholas Mattiello and Director of Veterans Affairs Kasim Yarn, who came in the place of Governor Gina Raimondo, gave remarks. Twin congratulatory resolutions in the House and Senate were introduced during the afternoon’s floor sessions to recognize the students.

“Bishop Hendricken accepted the initial challenge, returning home with a couple of gold medals in individual academic subject areas,” the resolution read in part. “Since then, Bishop Hendricken has returned to the national finals, after winning the Rhode Island State Event, on several occasions, but last week they accomplished something no other Rhode Island team had ever accomplished, winning first place and beating out thirteen other schools, including a team from China, in the event held in Madison, Wisconsin.”

The resolution also wrote that their victory was impressive since they were a team of “mostly rookies,” the only returning senior being Brady – Sister Murray “initially had her doubts about the team’s chances,” but the team “dominated” in competition, it said.

The students were recognized at the very beginning of the Senate session. Senate Majority Leader Michael McCaffrey introduced the resolution, and other Warwick Senators, including Jeanine Calkin and Erin Lynch Prata, stood to offer their own congratulations to the team. McCaffrey took a moment to recognize the efforts of Sister Murray, who he said had coached the Hendricken team for 10 years and led them to championships for seven straight years.

Added Calkin, “It’s an amazing achievement and you should all be proud.”

Over in the House, the students listened to representatives debate and vote on a few bills before House Majority Leader K. Joseph Shekarchi announced the resolution. Shekarchi noted that the students’ victory was the first of its kind in the 34 years the state competition has been run.

Representative Joseph McNamara shook each student’s hand before they were honored with a reception in the House Lounge. A few other representatives momentarily left the House floor to meet, take photos with, and further congratulate the winners.