Academic Challenge 2008

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. Peoria Heights competes in the 300 and under category. The 27th 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 2008 Academic Challenge participants include Sam Boles, Katie Bradbury, Willow Crane, Greg Gauf, Austin Harper, Laura Harting, Justin Hayse, Erik Kepler, Eric Markovich, Nikki Markovich, Sam Mathews, Kyle McDaniel, Baylen Morris, Andy Mulholland, Burl Rolett, Julio Soto, Cory Scribner, Alex Tiethoff, and Zack Troxel.

At the ICC Regionals the team was first. First place medallions were won by Willow Crane in Biology, Greg Gauf in Chemistry, Sam Mathews in Computers, and Julio Soto in Drafting. Second place medallions were won by Sam Boles in Physics, Willow Crane in English, Eric Markovich in Drafting, Nikki Markovich in Chemistry, Austin Harper in Computers, and Burl Rolett in Biology. Third place medallions were won by Sam Mathews in Biology, Erik Kepler in Drafting and in Physics, Nikki Markovich in Math, and Baylen Morris in Computers.

At the Bradley Sectional contest the team was first followed by St. Bede, and Heyworth. A first place medallion was won by Sam Mathews in biology. Willow Crane was second in biology. Nikki Markovich was first in chemistry and Greg Gauf was second in chemistry. Thirds were won by Sam Boles, Nikki Markovich, and Julio Soto who were all tied in math.

The team qualified for the State Contest at the U of I. Approximately 378 participants from 27 teams plus another 70 individual contestants for a total of over 450 students participate in the state contest. Erik Kepler was fifth in Engineering Graphics and Sam Mathews was sixth in Computer Fundamentals. The team finished tenth.

The PHHS team has qualified for the state contest nine times. Those teams were 1994 (fourth), 1995 (ninth), 1996 (seventh), 1997 (third), 1998 (fourth), 2000 (eighth), 2006 (eighth), 2007 (ninth), and 2008 (10th).

Teachers assisting in the contest include Ellen Tallon for biology, Jerry Crumrine for math, Kathy Allen for English, John Smith for graphics, and Jeff Vallosio for chemistry, physics, computers, and coordinating.