Academic Challenge 2004

Background

Academic Challenge is a statewide contest involving individual and interscholastic academic competition in seven areas: Chemistry, English, Math, Biology, Computer Fundamentals, Engineering Graphics, and Physics. Fourteen students plus alternates make up a team. Each student takes tests in two of the seven subject areas. The top two student’s scores in the school’s fop five subject areas make up the school score. The five areas must include English, Chemistry, and Math.

Schools are divided into classes based on student population. The 24th regional competition was again hosted by ICC in February and the sectional by Bradley in April. The top two schools from each class advance to the sectional competition. Top schools at the sectional competitions may advance to the state competition at the University of Illinois.

Including all the divisions over 500 schools with approximately 7000 students compete each year. Headquarters for the WYSE Academic Challenge is at the U of I in the Department of Engineering. WYSE is an acronym for Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering. For more information contact WYSE at 800-843-5410 or access the web site at http://www.engr.uiuc.edu/WYSE/

Current Information

The 2004 Academic Challenge participants include Kristen Burkart, Amanda Chamberlain, Greg Chamberlain, Jimmy Cresswell, Matt Fuller, Nick Lawrence, Justin Massey, Holly Phillips, Jamie Reichert, Jeff Schwindenhammer, Marcus Shipman, Amanda Thrush, Dylan Troxel, Tiffany Uhlig, and Hal Woo.

The team placed third to Princeville and Delavan at the ICC Regional. Regional medallists included: Jeff Schwindenhammer, third in chemistry; Greg Chamberlain and Marcus Shipman, third in computers; Amanda Thrush, third in physics, and Dylan Troxel and Matt Fuller, second and first in biology.

At the Bradley Sectional contest Matt and Dylan tied for second in chemistry thereby qualifying for the state contest. Dylan also placed first in biology thus earning a state spot in both subjects. Matt and Dylan participated in the state contest but did not place among the approximately 400 participants from around 22 teams and 89 individuals.

The PHHS team has qualified for the state contest six times. Those teams were 1994 (fourth), 1995 (ninth), 1996 (seventh), 1997 (third), 1998 (fourth), and 2000 (eighth).

Teachers assisting in the contest include Rich Henz for biology, Jerry Crumrine for math, Gloria Sidell for English, John Smith for graphics, and Jeff Vallosio for chemistry, physics, and coordinating.