GALESBURG—Carl Sandburg College hosted its annual Academic Challenge for high school students at The Main Campus in Galesburg on Thursday, Feb. 9. Students from Galesburg, Knoxville, United, Monmouth-Roseville, Rockridge, Spoon River Valley, Farmington, Sherrard, Bushnell-Prairie City, ROWVA, and Alwood competed. Each student chose two areas in which to test. Subject areas included biology, chemistry, computer science, English, engineering graphics, mathematics, and physics. The top three students in each category received awards and one individual champion was recognized. In addition to individual awards, team awards were given.

Individual awards were presented to the following students in the following categories:

Biology: 1. Ashni Patel, Galesburg; 2. Cody Jones, Knoxville; 3. Kierston Youngquist, United.

Chemistry: 1. Patrick Fasano, Monmouth-Roseville; 2. Joe Heath, Rockridge; 3. Layne Protz, Spoon River Valley.

Computer Science: 1. Patrick Fasano, Monmouth-Roseville; 2. Elizabeth McCormick, Farmington; 3. Drew Dunham, Rockridge.

Engineering Graphics: 1. Devin Clark, Monmouth-Roseville; 2. Kenny Lee, Knoxville; 3. Nate Steele, Sherrard; Honorable Mention – Alex Anderson, Galesburg; Jonah Armstrong, United; Natalie Moore, Galesburg.

English: 1. Eric Millichamp, Sherrard; 2. Sarah Donnelly, Spoon River Valley; 3. Jesse Hamerlinck, Rockridge.

Physics: 1. Jonah Armstrong, United; 2. Matt Welch, Alwood; 3. Nick Fulton, Farmington.

Mathematics: 1. Matt Welch, Alwood; 2. Jake Gavin, United; 3. Connor Fili, Spoon River Valley; Honorable Mention – Michael Holdsworth, Sherrard.

Patrick Fasano, Monmouth-Roseville, was awarded the individual overall champion. Team winners for Division 300 went to United, second place was Spoon River, and AlWood placed third. The Division 700 first place team was Monmouth-Roseville, second place was Farmington, and Sherrard placed third. Division 1500 first place team was Galesburg. The combined 300/700 School Champion was Monmouth-Roseville. Teams from United, Spoon River, Monmouth-Roseville, Farmington, and Galesburg will advance to the Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering (WYSE) sectional competition at Knox College in Galesburg on Monday, March 12.

Students not only competed for a team title, but also for the chance to receive a talent grant from Carl Sandburg College. Each high school who enters a team of at least six students received a talent grant for the next academic year which is a full-tuition scholarship for a full-time student (enrolled in 12-18 credit hours) at Sandburg. This scholarship can also be applied to dual-credit class tuition while still in high school in which the remainder of the grant can be applied if the student enrolls full-time and maintains a 2.75 GPA. In this situation, the grant may be renewed for one more succeeding academic year. Additionally, each school received three talent grants (equivalent to full tuition for 12-18 credit hours) for subject winners in math, chemistry and English on an open-basis competition.