Tag: Alison Tucker

Group of high school students in school colors and casual clothes after academic challenge at ECC.

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

February 12, 2025 | Campus News

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.

Warrenton students who participated in Academic Challenge lined up in Donald Shook Student Center

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.

Houston students who participated in Academic Challenge lined up in Donald Shook Student Center

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

1500 Division

Biology

1st – Jeremiah Hunn (Warrenton)
2nd – Cooper Guss (Washington)
3rd – Wade Petersmeyer (Warrenton)
3rd – Amelia Hux (Warrenton)

Chemistry

1st – Eleanor Raeker (Washington)
1st – Nathaniel Oreskovic (Washington)
2nd – Amelia Hux (Warrenton)
2nd – Charlotte Sibert (Warrenton)

Computational Science

1st – Adam Kassebaum (Washington)
2nd – Phineas Schneider (Washington)
2nd – Brennan Sullivan (Washington)
2nd – Rylan Arndt (Warrenton)

Engineering Graphics

1st – Malia Hopper (Warrenton)
2nd – Peter Bush (Washington)
2nd – Daniel Middleton (Warrenton)

English

1st – Alice Briggs (Warrenton)
2nd – Nathaniel Oreskovic (Washington)
3rd – Cooper Guss (Washington)

Mathematics

1st – McLaine Graham (Washington)
2nd – Joel Eckelkamp (Washington)
2nd – Alice Briggs (Warrenton)

Physics

1st – Rylan Arndt (Warrenton)
2nd – McLaine Graham (Washington)
2nd – Brooklyn Wells (Washington)

Math and Science Career Night attendees participate in an experiment with electricity with an ECC faculty member.

Area High Schoolers Invited to ECC Math & Science Career Night

September 8, 2024 | Campus News ECC Rolla

On Wednesday, Sept. 18, area high school students are invited to explore STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) degrees and career pathways offered by East Central College and Missouri S&T. The event will take place in the ECC Theatre in Hansen Hall from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Math & Science Career Night is hosted by ECC with special guests from Missouri S&T. Current high school students and East Central College students are encouraged to attend to discover STEM degrees and career paths, and to meet with faculty and students from both institutions across various fields, from Engineering to Biology and beyond.

This image provides the date, time and location of the ECC Math and Science Night. It lists ECC as the sponsor and Missouri S&T as a guest.

Please fill out this form to RSVP or email Alison Tucker, STEM Recruitment and Success Coordinator, at alison.tucker@eastcentral.edu or by calling 636-584-6677.

Students will hear firsthand accounts of what it’s like to work in STEM fields and gain insights into the careers of tomorrow. For example, ECC Engineering student Ryah Cullom, who attended Math & Science Career Night as a high school senior, shared her experience:

“I found the activities to be helpful and geared toward influencing the students to pursue this career. The teachers were very welcoming, and they strived to create a dedicated environment,” she said. “I enjoyed talking to the Engineering department because it reassured me that this major will help me to be successful in terms of lifestyle and the responsibilities of each job.”

Attendees will also receive advice on which high school classes will best prepare them for STEM degrees in college. Parents are also welcome to attend.

Additionally, several door prizes will be awarded, including a Texas Instruments TI-84 calculator.

ECC and Missouri S&T faculty from various STEM fields — ranging from Engineering to Biology and more — will be available to discuss students’ interests and potential career paths.

“STEM Career Night gives students an opportunity to mingle with faculty and students in a variety of STEM programs,” said Tucker. “ECC and S&T have enjoyed a strong relationship for over 40 years, including hosting this event for the past 25 years. We understand that students and parents appreciate the chance to ask questions and learn how to be best prepared for a STEM career path, no matter where they transfer.”

To learn more about ECC’s STEM programs, visit www.eastcentral.edu/science/.

College Hosts Successful Academic Challenge — Winner Announced

February 20, 2023 | Campus News ECC Rolla Images

There were 103 students from five high schools who competed in the annual Academic Challenge for Engineering and Science.

The competition was designed to challenge the best and brightest high school students. All five varsity teams will advance to the sectionals at Missouri S&T in Rolla. In addition to the five varsity teams, there were two junior varsity, or at-large teams, that also participated in the Academic Challenge.

Teams from Linn (Osage County R-II), Washington (varsity and junior varsity), 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, computational 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.

Alison Tucker, STEM recruitment & success coordinator, who coordinated this year’s event, said the tests are written by college-level faculty, and are designed to present a challenge to the brightest students.

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

Linn High School, first place, 500 points.

700 Category

Saint Francis Borgia Regional High School, 484.3 points, first place; and Houston High School, 474.1 points, second place.

1,500 Category

Warrenton High School, 422.6, first place; and Washington High School, 418.4 points, second place.

Individual winners

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

300 Category (all from Osage R-II/Linn High School)

Biology — Annaliese Bowser and Vivian Baker, tied for first; Arlyn Martin, second; and Kiana Hostetler, third.

Chemistry — Marrisa Ghelert, first; Arlyn Martin and Lily Strope, tied for second; and Ramsie Tschappler, third.

Computational Science — Levi Crane, first; Gabe Branson, second; and Mia Jaegers, third.

Engineering Graphics — Levi Crane, first; Gabe Branson, second; and Kiana Hostetler, third.

English — Mia Jaegers, first; Annaliese Bowser, second; and Vivian Baker, third.

Mathematics — Trevor Murray, first; Lily Strope, first; and Marrisa Ghelert, Linn, third.

Physics — Elijah Baker, first; Ramsie Tschappler, second; and Trevor Murray, third.

700 Category

Biology — Kristen Ely, Houston, first; Miah Bressie, Houston, and Tyler Dill, Borgia, tied for second; and Ava Fischer, Borgia, third.

Chemistry — Owen Wells, Houston, first; Zach Posinski, Borgia, second; and Lily Johnson, Houston, third.

Computational Science — Brody Adkison, Houston, first; Jackson Comely , Borgia, and Stone Jackson, Houston, tied for second.

Engineering Graphics — Drew Eckhoff, Borgia, first; Aiden Kelly, Houston, second; and Sam Dunard, Borgia, third.

English — Andy Durham, Houston, first; Jack Dunard, Borgia, second; and Brandon Jones, Borgia, third.

Mathematics — Lexie Meyer, Borgia, and Jack Dunard, Borgia, tied for first; Lily Johnson, Houston, second; and Brandon Jones, Borgia, and Sam Dunard, Borgia, tied for third.

Physics — Andy Durham, Houston, first; Ben Cook, Houston, second; and Addison Cook, Houston, third.

1500 Category

Biology — Leah Wheeler, Washington, first; Emma Wheeler, Washington, second; and Grant Beuchner, Warrenton, third.

Chemistry — Luke Rausch, Warrenton, first; Dominic Johnson, Warrenton, second; and Lilly Schmitt, Washington, third.

Computational Science — Roy Briggs, Warrenton, first; Micheal Hotra, Washington, second; and Isaac Lough, Washington, third.

Engineering Graphics — Tyler Eckelkamp, Washington, first; Nikolas Hellebusch, Washington, second; and Owen Thompson, Warrenton, third.

English — Alice Briggs, Warrenton, first; Roy Briggs, Warrenton, second; and Abby Palmer, Warrenton, third.

Mathematics — Tyler Eckelkamp, Washington, first; Isaac Lough, Washington, second; and Kellen Scheimeier, Washington, and Claire Hellebusch, Washington, tied for third.

Physics — Owen Thompson, Warrenton, first; Katie Shramek, Warrenton, Kellen Scheimeier, Washington, and Nick Holdmeyer, Washington, tied for second; and Nate Kutsch, Warrenton and Grant Beuchner, Warrenton, tied for third.