ECC Hosts Academic Challenge; Winners Announced

There were Eight teams from six schools in the region that came to East Central College to compete in the annual Academic Challenge.

There were about 100 total competitors who came to the College to compete in the competition, which was designed to challenge the best and brightest high school students.

Teams from Linn, Washington (varsity and junior varsity), Sullivan, Warrenton (varsity and junior varsity), Houston and St. Francis Borgia Regional high schools attended.

The students participated in a battery of tests in seven subject areas: math, biology, chemistry, physics, English, computer science and engineering graphics.

The tests are taken individually, and prizes are awarded for top individual scores in each subject area and for top team scores.

Linda Arrington, academic advisor/instructional for engineering at ECC, noted that the tests are written by college-level faculty, and they are designed to present a challenge to the brightest students, calling it a “bridge between secondary and higher education.”

The Academic Challenge is in Missouri with about 40 to 50 high schools participating, but over 6,000 students from 400 high schools in Illinois participate in the annual event. This is the 22nd year ECC has hosted the regional challenge.

The Challenge is divided into large (1,500), intermediate (700) and small (300) school categories, with the top team and individual winners from the competition at ECC advancing to the sectional competition.

Winners

The overall team winners for each school category, are:

300 Category

Houston High School, first place, 500 points; and Linn High School, second place, 421 points.

700 Category

Saint Francis Borgia Regional High School, 499.2 points, first place; and Sullivan High School, 493.6 points, second place.

1,500 Category

Warrenton High School, 490.5 points, first place; and Washington High School, 482.2 points, second place.

Individual winners from each category and in each subject, are:

300 Category
Biology — Alex Swallow, Houston, first; Maggie Ribaudo, Linn, second; and Miah Bressie Houston, third.

Chemistry — Devon Sawyer, Houston, first place; Nick Washko, Houston, second; and Gibson Tschappler, Linn, third.

Computer Science — Levi Crane, Linn, first; Brody Adkison. Houston, second; and Austin Blankenship, Houston, third.

Engineering Graphics — Sierra Pollard, Linn, first; Nick Washko, Houston, second; and Marrisa Ghelert, Linn, third.

English — Andy Durham, Houston, first; Maggie Ribaudo, Linn, second; and Austin Blankenship, Houston, third.

Mathematics — Devon Sawyer, Houston, first; Marissa Gehlert, Linn, second; and Gibson Tschappler, Linn, third.

Physics — Andy Durham, Houston, first; Alex Swallow, Houston, second; and Emma Fennell, Linn, third.

700 Category

Biology — Jackson Hamblin, Sullivan, first; Drew Eckhoff, St. Francis Borgia, second; and Emily Lowe, Sullivan, third.

Chemistry — Adam Snider, St. Francis Borgia, first; Loren Halmick, Sullivan, second; and Elle Webers, Sullivan, third.

Computer Science — Joshua Gollaher, Sullivan, first; Jackson Comely, St. Francis Borgia, second; and

Connor Skornia, St. Francis Borgia, third.

Engineering Graphics — Hannah Menges, St. Francis Borgia, first; Mary Daily, Sullivan, second; and Sam Dunard, St. Francis Borgia, third.

English — Brandon Jones, St. Francis Borgia, first; Loren Halmick, Sullivan, second; and Adia Halmick, Sullivan, third.

Mathematics — Adam Snider, St. Francis Borgia, first; Walker Hardy, Sullivan, second; and Jackson Hamblin, Sullivan, third.

Physics — Lexie Meyer, St. Francis Borgia, first; Ben Lause, St. Francis Borgia, second; and Walker Hardy, Sullivan, third.

1500 Category

Biology — Samantha Pyatt, Washington, first; Abi Waters, Washington, second; and Grant Beuchner, Warrenton, third.

Chemistry — Vincent Hoang, Washington, first; Luke Rausch, Warrenton, second; and Lilly Schmitt, Washington, third.

Computer Science — Roy Briggs, Warrenton, first; Ben Oesterly, Washington, second; and Isaac Lough, Washington, third.

Engineering Graphics — Tyler Eckelkamp, Washington, first; Sam Stewart, Washington, second; and Ethan King, Warrenton, third.

English — Elena Roewe, Washington, first; Roy Briggs, Warrenton, second; and Leah Wheeler, Washington, third.

Mathematics — Ben Oesterly, Washington, first; Ian Vacek, Warrenton, second; and Tyler Eckelkamp, Washington, third.

Physics —Andrew Meyer, Washington, first; Micah Gargrave, Washington, second; and Ian Vacek, Warrenton, third.