Academic Challenge 2005

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 25th regional competition was again hosted by ICC in February and the sectional by Bradley in March. 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 2005 Academic Challenge participants include Grant Allen, Kristen Burkart, Mike Casey, Greg Chamberlain, Briana Couve, Michael Hill, Nick Lawrence, Holly Phillips, Jamie Reichert, Jeff Schwindenhammer, Marcus Shipman, Julio Soto, Dylan Troxel, Tiffany Uhlig, Hal Woo, and Hye-Jin Yeon.

The team placed second to Princeville at the ICC Regional. Regional medallists included: Jeff Schwindenhammer, first in computer fundamentals, Michael Hill third in computers, Hal Woo third in chemistry, Mike Casey second in graphics, and Dylan Troxel, first in biology and chemistry.

At the Bradley Sectional contest Dylan was first in biology, Hye-Jin was second in math, Jeff was first in chemistry, and Greg Chamberlain second in computers thereby qualifying for the state contest. Other sectional medalists included: Dylan and Hal third in chemistry, Michael Hill and Julio Soto third in graphics, and Michael and Jeff third in computers. Dylan, Hye-Jin, Jeff and Greg participated in the state contest at the U of I among over 400 participants from 23 teams plus individuals from an additional 47 schools. Dylan placed fifth in chemistry.

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, Kathy Allen for English, John Smith for graphics, and Jeff Vallosio for chemistry, physics, and coordinating.