Academic Challenge

Academic Challenge is a statewide contest involving individual and interscholastic academic competition. It can serve as a vehicle to promote academic improvement. The state sponsoring organization is Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering (WYSE) located at the College of Engineering at the University of Illinois. The Academic Challenge contest has been in existence for over twenty-five years. There are local, regional, and state competitions. Seven academic areas are tested: English; Math; Chemistry; Physics; Biology; Engineering Graphics; and Computer Fundamentals. Fourteen students may take part. Each student takes tests in two of the seven academic areas.

Scoring and Awards

Participating schools are divided into Division III, Division II, and Division IA and IB depending on enrollment. Division III, which includes Peoria-Heights High School, is for schools with fewer than 300 pupils.

The top two scores in each of the subject areas are normalized in computing the school scores. English, Math, and Chemistry plus the next two highest areas are counted in computing the school score. All schools take the same tests regardless of their size.

School trophies are awarded to the top three (state level five) schools in each category. The top three individuals (state level six) in each subject area receive awards. The top two teams and top two individuals in each subject area advance to the sectional and then possibly to the state contest in Champaign, Illinois.

1994

ACADEMIC CHALLENGE TEAM PLACES 4th IN STATE FINALS

The PHHS team placed fourth out of 23 schools in the Academic Challenge State Finals at the University of Illinois. The team members are: Pat Aylward, Tony Buecker, Tabitha Hallstrom, Shaun Lewis, Eric Lockhart, Dan McClain, Caitlin McLaughlin, Kim Ruck, Eric Searles, Drew Stout, Eric Talbott, Joe Talbott, Calvin Tran, and Dan Walters.

Individual state awards went to the following students:

1. Calvin Tran: first in chemistry and third in physics

2. Drew Stout: third in math and fourth in physics

3. Dan Walters: seventh in chemistry

4. Shaun Lewis: seventh in computer fundamentals

1995

The 1995 JETS (now WYSE) participants included Pat Aylward, Jason Bowles, Tony Buecker, Terry Chase, Amy Counter, Chris Dalton, Tabitha Hallstrom, Heidi Haptonstahl, Shaun Lewis, Eric Lockhart, Kevin Marfell, Dan McClain, Caitlin McLaughlin, Tracy Simmons, Joe Talbott, Phi Vu, and Dan Walters. The Regional Contest was at Illinois Central College. Peoria-Heights High School placed first, advancing to the sectional competition at Western Illinois University where we placed second thus advancing to the state contest at the University of Illinois. The team placed ninth of 22 at the state level.

1996

The Academic Challenge team placed seventh of the twenty-one teams at the 22nd annual state competition.

In addition to the 21 teams there were 60 individual from an additional 42 schools for a total of around 354 students. Peoria-Heights had two individuals recognized. They were Pat Aylward who was 6th in computers and Daniel Walters who was 6th in math and 2nd in chemistry. The other contest areas were biology, English, drafting, and physics.

The 1996 team consisted of freshman Amy Simmons; sophomores Jenni Black, Don DeLong, Stefanie Karl, Cassie Lively, Nathan Pauli, and Joy Wilson; juniors Pat Aylward, Amy Coulter, and Shaun Lewis; and seniors Eric Lockhard, Kevin Marfell, Dan McCalin, Caitlin McLaughlin, Tracy Simmons, and Daniel Walters.

First place went to Oblong, second to Elgin Academy, third to Harkin County, fourth to St. Bede of Peru, and fifth to Brimfield. The top five schools won trophies and team medallions. In sixth place was Archbishop Quialey with PHHS seventh. Approximately 21 schools were eligible to compete in the small school category.

1997

The 1997 Academic Challenge included Pat Aylward, Jenni Black, Rob Bunting, Missy Camper, Melissa Cooper, Amy Coulter, Don DeLong, Scott Hulse, Lloyd Jones, Stefanie Karl, Cassie Lively, Shaun Lewis, Nathan Pauli, Carlos Rosales, Amy Simmons, Ryan Whalen, and Joy Wilson. The Regional Contest was at Illinois Central College. Peoria-Heights High School placed first, advancing to the sectional competition at Western Illinois University where PHHS was also first.

Medallions were won by:

1. Don DeLong - 1st Drafting, 2nd Chemistry

2. Nathan Pauli - 2nd Math, 3rd Chemistry

3. Jenni Black - 3rd English

4. Ryan Whalen - 3rd Drafting

5. Shaun Lewis - 1st Computers

6. Pat Aylward - 2nd Computers

At the state contest PHHS was third behind Morgan Park Academy of Chicago and University Laboratory School of Urbana. Don DeLong was 2nd in drafting and Nathan Pauli 1st in Chemistry.

1998

The 1998 participants include Jenni Black, Rob Bunting, Jeff Chase, Melissa Cooper, Don DeLong, Jamie Henry, Scott Hulse, Karl Jackson, Cassie Lively, David Mast, Nathan Pauli, Brian Redshaw, Gene Schafer, Amy Simmons, Crystey Switlik, Ben Walbert, Cody Wilson, Joy Wilson, and Stephen Woo.

The Regional Contest was at Illinois Central College, Peoria-Heights High School placed first, advancing to the regional competition at Western Illinois University where we were also first thus advancing to the state contest at the University of Illinois where the team placed fourth behind University High Lab School of Urbana, Morgan Park Academy of Chicago, and Warren High School. This is the fifth consecutive state appearance for the Heights team.

At the ICC district competition the following medallions were earned:

1. Jenny Black - 3rd in Math

2. Cassie Lively - 3rd in English

3. Stephen Woo - 3rd in Biology

4. Rob Bunting - 2nd in Biology

5. Don DeLong - 1st in Drafting and 3d in Chemistry

6. Nathan Pauli - 1st in both Chemistry and Math

The team was first for the second consecutive year with Brimfield second and Princeville third.

Medallions received at the WIU Regional were won by:

1. Scott Hulse - 2nd in Drafting

2. Don DeLong - 2nd in Chemistry and 1st in Drafting

3. Nathan Pauli - 1st in both Chemistry and Math

For the second year in a row PHHS was first with Warren second and Brimfield third.

At the State Contest Don DeLong was third in Drafting and Nathan Pauli was first in Chemistry. This is the second year Nathan was first in Chemistry. Don also won a drafting medallion last year so both seniors are two year state medallion winners.

1999

The 1999 WYSE Academic Challenge participants include Cheryl Boles, Rob Bunting, Jeff Chase, Melissa Cooper, Scott Hulse, Kari Jackson, Matt Jensen, Justin Metz, David Mast, Brian Redshaw, Gene Schafer, Amy Simmons, Ben Walbert, Steven Woo, and alternates Mindy Adami, Ryan DeLong, Ian Munk, and Emily Pauli.

Peoria-Heights placed third at the ICC regional behind sectional qualifiers Brinfield (2nd) and Princeville (first and eventual 11th at state). Medallions were won by:

1. Ben Walbert - third in computers

2. Brian Redshaw - second in drafting

3. Jeff Chase - first in Chemistry

Brian Redshaw and Jeff Chase qualified as individuals for the sectional competition at Bradley where they were again second and first. They qualified for but did not place at the University of Illinois state level of the contest.

2000

The 2000 Academic Challenge participants include Nick Armstrong, Samantha Black, Cheryl Boles, Rob Bunting, Jeff Chase, Ryan DeLong, Dustin Dozard, Scott Hulse, Andrew Jackson, David Mast, Justing Metz, Ian Munk, Shaun Parlier, Emily Pauli, Brian Redshaw, Ben Walbert, Adam Wallengfang, Stephen Woo, and Susan Woo.

The team placed second to Princeville at both the ICC Regional and the Bradley Sectional Contests. At the ICC contest third place medallions were won by Brian Redshaw in Math and David Mast in Physics. Second place medallions were earned by Rob Bunting in Physics, Scott Hulse in Graphics, and Stephen Woo in English. First went to Ben Walbert in English, Brian Redshaw in Graphics, Stephen Woo in Physics, and Jeff Chase in Chemistry. The Bradley contest saw Rob Bunting earning a third in Chemistry, Ben Walbert a second in Physics, Scott Hulse a second in Graphics, and Brian Redshaw a first in Graphics.

PHHS qualified for the state contest at the University of Illinois in April. This is the sixth team PHHS has qualified for the state contest. The teams were 1994 (fourth), 1995 (ninth), 1996 (seventh), 1997 (third), 1998 (fourth), and 2000. In excess of 20 teams form around the Illinois compete for the state title.

2001

The 2001 Academic Challenge participants include Samantha Black, Chad Brock, Ryan DeLong, Dustin Dozard, a sophomore, Kari Jackson, David Mast, Ian Munk, Emily Pauli, Brian Redshaw, Amanda Thrush, Ben Walbert, Adam Wallenfang, and Stephen Woo. Alternates included Jonas Amundsen, Cheryl Boles, Kristen Dennis, another sophomore, and Susan Woo.

The team placed third to Brimfield and Princeville at the ICC Regional. First and second place teams and individuals qualify for the sectional. At the contest Brian Redshaw received a first in graphics, Emily Pauli a second in chemistry, Ian Munk a second in biology, David Mast a third in English, and Stephen Woo a third in chemistry.

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

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

2002

The 2002 Academic Challenge participants include Grant Allen, Samantha Black, Cheryl Boles, Ashley Cranford, Ryan DeLong, Kristin Dennis, Dustin Dozard, Ryan Foster, Andrew Jackson, Noah Johnson, Ian Munk, Emily Pauli, Joe Symmonds, Amanda Thrush, Adam Wallenfang, Susan Woo, and two additional juniors.

The team placed second to Princeville at the ICC Regional. At the regional contest Ryan DeLong and Ryan Foster tied for third in engineering graphics, Emily Pauli placed first in chemistry and third in physics, Ian Munk received a first in computers and a junior a second, Samantha Black and Kristin Dennis tied for second in English and Kristin was third in math, Cheryl Boles won second in chemistry and third in physics, and Adam Wallenfang earned a second in biology.

The team was fifth at the sectional. Three individuals qualified for the state contest as individuals by doing well at the sectional contest. They were Ryan DeLong for meeting the state qualifying score in math, Andrew Jackson for a second in physics, and Emily Pauli for placing second in chemistry. Emily was also third in physics.

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

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).