Nearly 130 high school students from the region met on the campus of Southeastern Illinois College Thursday, Feb. 9, to take a series of regional exams as part of the Academic Challenge for Science and Engineering, sponsored by Eastern Illinois University (EIU).
Eight high schools came to SIC to battle in biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering graphics, English, mathematics, and physics. Those schools were Carmi-White County, Carrier Mills-Stonefort, Eldorado, Galatia, Gallatin, Hardin, Harrisburg, and Norris City-Omaha-Enfield.
Each high school competes against other schools in the same division, which is based on school enrollment, and awards are given to both individual competitors and teams. The event was hosted by the SIC Math, Science, and Technology Division and organized by SIC mathematics instructor Kim Martin.
Coaches were treated to a continental breakfast while students were testing, and competitors enjoyed a brunch box between rounds.
“We are happy to carry on this tradition of many decades, hosting the regional competition of the Academic Challenge for Science and Engineering (formerly JETS and WYSE) here at Southeastern,” said Martin. “The exams are meant to present a ‘challenge’ to the brightest students, written by professional engineers and faculty members from across the United States, with test material drawn from high school senior and college freshman coursework. We congratulate all students for being selected to represent their schools, and wish all those who qualified to advance to sectionals the best possible outcomes. We are delighted to welcome these impressive teams and their coaches to our campus every year, and they bring with them the best spirit and enthusiasm!”
In the small school (300) division, Gallatin County High School won first place, followed by Norris City-Omaha-Enfield High School in second and Hardin County High School in third.
In the large school (700) division, Harrisburg High School took first place with Carmi-White County High School in second.
Regional first and second place winners, both in team and individual competition, qualify for sectional exams, which will be held March 15 at Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC). Winners at sectionals will advance to the Illinois state finals to be held at EIU April 10-13 at EIU. The 300 division will compete on April 10 and the 700 division will compete on April 11.
2023 Academic Challenge Results
300 division
Biology
1ST Madi Cruson Gallatin County School CUSD #7 300 VARSITY BIOLOGY
2ND Halle Morris Galatia High School 300 VARSITY BIOLOGY
3RD Erica Johnson Gallatin County School CUSD #7 300 VARSITY BIOLOGY
Chemistry
1 Elise Hortin Norris City Omaha Enfield High School 300 VARSITY CHEMISTRY
2 Sidney Raymer Gallatin County School CUSD #7 300 VARSITY CHEMISTRY
3 Blake Stanford Gallatin County School CUSD #7 300 VARSITY CHEMISTRY
3 Kole Roser Norris City Omaha Enfield High School 300 VARSITY CHEMISTRY
Computer Science
1 Dawson Prior Hardin County CUSD #1 300 VARSITY COMPUTER SCIENCE
2 Devyn Valdez Carrier Mills – Stonefort High School 300 VARSITY COMPUTER SCIENCE
2 Jaxson Buckman Gallatin County School CUSD #7 300 VARSITY COMPUTER SCIENCE
3 Jeff Gmerek Gallatin County School CUSD #7 300 VARSITY COMPUTER SCIENCE
Engineering
1 Sydney Bickett Gallatin County School CUSD #7 300 VARSITY ENGINEERING GRAPHICS
2 Jaxson Buckman Gallatin County School CUSD #7 300 VARSITY ENGINEERING GRAPHICS
3 Preston Wilson Gallatin County School CUSD #7 300 VARSITY ENGINEERING GRAPHICS
English
1 Madi Cruson Gallatin County School CUSD #7 300 VARSITY ENGLISH
2 Elise Hortin Norris City Omaha Enfield High School 300 VARSITY ENGLISH
2 Mallory Settles Hardin County CUSD #1 300 VARSITY ENGLISH
2 Sophie Howard Gallatin County School CUSD #7 300 VARSITY ENGLISH
3 Andre Williams Galatia High School 300 VARSITY ENGLISH
3 Erica Johnson Gallatin County School CUSD #7 300 VARSITY ENGLISH
Math
1 Hannah Taylor Norris City Omaha Enfield High School 300 VARSITY MATHEMATICS
2 Hayden Moore Gallatin County School CUSD #7 300 AT-LARGE MATHEMATICS
2 Kole Roser Norris City Omaha Enfield High School 300 VARSITY MATHEMATICS
2 Rylie Rushing Gallatin County School CUSD #7 300 VARSITY MATHEMATICS
2 Sydney Bickett Gallatin County School CUSD #7 300 VARSITY MATHEMATICS
3 Joel Hortin Norris City Omaha Enfield High School 300 VARSITY MATHEMATICS
Physics
1 Kenly Pickering Hardin County CUSD #1 300 VARSITY PHYSICS
2 Blake Stanford Gallatin County School CUSD #7 300 VARSITY PHYSICS
2 Keegan McDonald Norris City Omaha Enfield High School 300 VARSITY PHYSICS
2 Mallory Settles Hardin County CUSD #1 300 VARSITY PHYSICS
3 Joel Hortin Norris City Omaha Enfield High School 300 VARSITY PHYSICS
700 Division
Biology
1 Andrew May Carmi-White County High School 700 VARSITY BIOLOGY
1 Sophie Williams Harrisburg High School 700 VARSITY BIOLOGY
2 Alahni Ward Harrisburg High School 700 VARSITY BIOLOGY
2 Gracie Rawlinson Carmi-White County High School 700 AT-LARGE BIOLOGY
3 Jaya Smith Carmi-White County High School 700 JV BIOLOGY
3 Kylan Jerrell Harrisburg High School 700 VARSITY BIOLOGY
Chemistry
1 Sophie Williams Harrisburg High School 700 VARSITY CHEMISTRY
2 Andrew May Carmi-White County High School 700 VARSITY CHEMISTRY
2 Ross Rider Harrisburg High School 700 VARSITY CHEMISTRY
3 Luke Bolerjack Carmi-White County High School 700 VARSITY CHEMISTRY
3 Skye Casey Harrisburg High School 700 VARSITY CHEMISTRY
Computer Science
1 Tyler Adams Carmi-White County High School 700 VARSITY COMPUTER SCIENCE
2 Saylor Mason Carmi-White County High School 700 VARSITY COMPUTER SCIENCE
3 Paige Potts Harrisburg High School 700 VARSITY COMPUTER SCIENCE
3 Sadie Foy Harrisburg High School 700 VARSITY COMPUTER SCIENCE
Engineering
1 Kale Wiggins Carmi-White County High School 700 VARSITY ENGINEERING GRAPHICS
2 Devani Mendonca Carmi-White County High School 700 VARSITY ENGINEERING GRAPHICS
3 Austin Collins Eldorado High School 700 VARSITY ENGINEERING GRAPHICS
English
1 Sadie Foy Harrisburg High School 700 VARSITY ENGLISH
2 Jake Blimline Harrisburg High School 700 VARSITY ENGLISH
3 Kyler Fisher Carmi-White County High School 700 VARSITY ENGLISH
Math
1 Gage Atteberry Carmi-White County High School 700 VARSITY MATHEMATICS
1 Mark Miller Harrisburg High School 700 VARSITY MATHEMATICS
2 Kylee Oglesby Eldorado High School 700 VARSITY MATHEMATICS
3 Caroline Simmons Carmi-White County High School 700 JV MATHEMATICS
3 Courtney Snow Carmi-White County High School 700 VARSITY MATHEMATICS
3 Kyler Fisher Carmi-White County High School 700 VARSITY MATHEMATICS
Physics
1 21909 Mark Miller Harrisburg High School 700 VARSITY PHYSICS
1 21902 Ross Rider Harrisburg High School 700 VARSITY PHYSICS
2 13811 Tyler Goemaat Carmi-White County High School 700 VARSITY PHYSICS
2 21901 Wekey Wang Harrisburg High School 700 VARSITY PHYSICS
3 18711 Lora Forster Eldorado High School 700 VARSITY PHYSICS
3 21903 Luke Winkleman Harrisburg High School 700 VARSITY PHYSICS
