Illini West High School Wins Academic Challenge Regional in Carthage
Aaron Frey
Friday, March 6, 2020 12:02 PM
Campus News
Carthage, IL
Illini West High School claimed the championship at the 38th annual Academic Challenge regional competition held in February at Carl Sandburg College’s Branch Campus in Carthage.
Students from Hamilton, Illini West and West Central high schools were tested in biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering graphics, English, mathematics and physics. The top three finishers in each category received awards, and the top two from each category advance to compete in the sectional competition March 9 at Spoon River Valley.
Organized by Eastern Illinois University, the Academic Challenge includes dozens competing high schools throughout the state, with material for the multiple-choice tests drawn from senior high school and freshman-level college curricula.
The top three finishers in each subject at the Carthage Regional were as follows:
BIOLOGY
- Elijah McGinity (Hamilton)
- Lilah Fosmore (West Central)
- Ben Hollis (Hamilton)
Honorable mention — Hunter Kienast (Illini West)
CHEMISTRY
- Elizabeth Dunlap (Illini West)
- Wesley Stewart (West Central)
- Alexis Smith (Illini West)
Honorable Mention — Luke Celania (Hamilton)
COMPUTER SCIENCE
- Patrick Speegle (Hamilton)
- Wesley Stewart (West Central)
- Mason Burling (Illini West)
ENGINEERING GRAPHICS
- Ben Hollis (Hamilton)
- Hunter Boston (Illini West)
- Donovan Squier (Illini West)
ENGLISH
- Collin Blackwell (Hamilton)
- Emily Scheu (Hamilton)
- Chloe Turner (Hamilton)
MATHEMATICS
- Laura Carpenter (Illini West)
- Jil Brevick (Hamilton)
- Madison Curfman (Illini West)
Honorable mention — Dane Pfeiferling (Hamilton)
PHYSICS
- Brianna Kinkaide (West Central)
- Laura Carpenter (Illini West)
- Mason Burling (Illini West)
Honorable Mention — Dane Pfeiferling (Hamilton), Jayde Henry (West Central), Emily Scheu (Hamilton)
OVERALL SCHOOL STANDINGS
- Illini West
- Hamilton
- West Central