Approximately 185 students from 13 area high schools competed in the regional Academic Challenge at Lincoln Land Community College. Students competed as individuals and as teams (of up to 14 students) testing in their choice of two subjects — biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering graphics, English, mathematics and physics. The tests are written by teams of college and university faculty and designed to present a challenge to high school students. Teams that place either first or second within their respective divisions at the regional level are eligible to advance to the sectional competition to be held in March. Third place teams also advance if there are eight or more teams competing in a regional division.
Those teams advancing to sectional competition include: Division 300 (high schools with 300 students or less) – Mt. Pulaski and Pawnee; Division 700 (high schools with 301-700 students) – Pleasant Plains and Auburn; and Division 1500 (high schools with 701-1,500 students) – Glenwood and Jacksonville. Individuals that placed first or second in any division, but whose team did not advance, are eligible to participate in the sectional competition (see individual rankings below). Teams and individuals that score high enough at the sectional competition will advance to the state finals, which will be held April 14-17 at Eastern Illinois University.
Two $250 LLCC Foundation scholarships were awarded at the event. Robin Pitts from Lanphier High School and Zorah Austin from North Mac High School were selected at random from all participants in the Academic Challenge as the recipients.
The regional level competition at LLCC was sponsored by LLCC and Eastern Illinois University.
Division 300 teams participating: Greenview, Mt. Pulaski, Nokomis, Pawnee and Virginia
Individual Rankings
Biology
First – Abygail O’Malley, Nokomis
Second – Thomas Lieber, Nokomis
Third – Cecilia Davis, Mt. Pulaski
Chemistry
First – Alexis Wade, Mt. Pulaski
Second – Amber Bradbury, Pawnee and Makenna Wilham, Mt. Pulaski
Third – Emarie Willis, Mt. Pulaski and Nolan Himes, Nokomis
Computer Science
First – Hayden Masters, Pawnee
Second – David Ruhl, Mt. Pulaski
Third – Jacob Gordon, Pawnee
Engineering Graphics
First – David Ruhl, Mt. Pulaski
Second – Lily Woodworth, Mt. Pulaski
Third – Tanner Bishop, Mt. Pulaski
English
First – Colt Selinger, Mt. Pulaski
Second – Gavin Smith, Mt. Pulaski
Third – Mia Minor, Virginia and Heather Godsil, Greenview
Mathematics
First – Maddux Himes, Nokomis
Second – Reece Lohman, Nokomis
Third – Hayden Masters, Pawnee; Megan Reynolds, Virginia; Alexander Wilcoxon, Greenview; and Colt Selinger, Mt. Pulaski
Physics
First – Makenna Wilham, Mt. Pulaski
Second – Justin Skinner, Pawnee and Lilly Carson, Virginia
Third – Alexander Wilcoxon, Greenview
Division 700 teams participating: Athens, Auburn, North Mac and Pleasant Plains