Scholars Put to the Test in Engineering & Science Challenge at ECC

More than 50 students from three high schools competed in the annual Academic Challenge for Engineering and Science on Feb. 5.

The competition is designed to challenge the best and brightest high school students. This year, varsity teams from Washington High School and Warrenton High School competed in the 1,500-school category. Washington High School secured first place, with Warrenton High taking second.

In the small (300) school category, the Houston High School varsity squad claimed the top spot.

All three varsity teams will advance to the sectional competition, which will be held online in March. In addition to the varsity teams, junior varsity—or at-large—teams from Washington and Warrenton also participated in the Academic Challenge. Several at-large students will advance independently of the varsity teams.

About the Challenge

The Academic Challenge is a series of in-person, high school competitions organized by The School of Extended Learning at Eastern Illinois University, with assistance from ECC and other institutions in Missouri and Illinois.

Students participated in a series of tests across seven subject areas: biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering graphics, English, mathematics, and physics. The tests are designed to challenge top-performing high school students with material drawn from high school senior and college freshman curricula, helping bridge the gap between secondary and higher education.

Tests are taken individually, and prizes are awarded for the highest individual scores in each subject area, as well as for top team scores. Alison Tucker, STEM Recruitment & Success Coordinator, who organizes the ECC event, explained that the tests are written by college-level faculty and designed to provide a rigorous challenge for students.

The Academic Challenge is divided into large (1,500), intermediate (700), and small (300) school categories. This year, schools competed in the 1,500 and 300 divisions at ECC, with the top teams and individual winners advancing to sectionals.

300 Division

1st Place – Houston High School, 500 points
Team members: Ben Steelman, Gracyn McNiell, Hudson Volk, Kendal Johnson, Brody Adkison, Kristen Ely, Adyson Dailing, and Owen Wells.

1500 Division

1st Place – Washington High School, 493 points
Team members: Nathaniel Oreskovic, Grace Gargrave, Adam Kassebaum, Eleanor Raeker, McLaine Graham, Luke Mauchenheimer, Cooper Guss, Sarah Stewart, Colton Warnecke, Peter Bush, Phineas Schneider, Christain Rennick, and Thomas Enkvetchakul.

2nd Place – Warrenton High School, 444 points
Team members: Alice Briggs, Jeremiah Hunn, Malia Hopper, Jadyn Hopper, Bradyn Sanders, Rylan Arndt, Mykenzy Sebastian, Wade Petersmeyer, Becca Spencer, Shamad Henry, Joe Buechner, and Charlotte Sibert.

At-Large Competitors Advancing

Amelia Hux (Warrenton) – Chemistry
Brennan Sullivan (Washington) – Computational Science
Daniel Middleton (Warrenton) – Engineering Graphics
Brooklyn Wells (Warrenton) – Physics

Individual Results

300 Division (All from Houston High School)

Biology

1st – Ben Steelman
2nd – Owen Wells

Chemistry

1st – Kristen Ely
2nd – Hudson Volk
3rd – Adyson Dailing

Computational Science

1st – Brody Adkison

Engineering Graphics

1st – Owen Wells

English

1st – Gracyn McNiell
2nd – Adyson Dailing
3rd – Kendal Johnson

Mathematics

1st – Kendal Johnson
2nd – Gracyn McNiell
2nd – Hudson Volk

Physics

1st – Kristen Ely
1st – Brody Adkison
3rd – Ben Steelman