About A.C.E.S. - Academic Challenge in Engineering and Science
Richmond-Burton has a long-standing tradition of performing well in the J.E.T.S., W.Y.S.E., and now Academic Challenge competitions over the years.
The program, initially run by the University of Illinois/Urbana-Champaign, was designed to allow high school students from around the state of Illinois (and expanding into Missouri) to study and take tests on collegiate-level material in the sciences and English. Each member of the team competes in two different academic areas, chosen from the following: Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering Graphics, English, Mathematics, and Physics. The team is open to all high school students interested in preparing and competing. Some students have chosen a major based on their experiences through the Academic Challenge. The program has been taken over by Eastern Illinois University and they will host the state competitions for the first time in 2019.
RB has won state four times and is always vying for that position, however, the team previously placed. The divisions are based on enrollment and RB is now in Division 700 (schools with an enrollment of 301-700) after being in the higher division for many years. The team's focus and goal are still the same--to return to the state competition and bring home the state team trophy!
2019 Results
Regional-1st place team
Biology- 3rd place: Andres Luna; 2nd place: Charlie Holas, Sam Holas; 1st place: Chase Duncan
Chemistry - 3rd place: Sam Holas; 2nd: Kalen Fellows
Computer Science - 3rd place: Manas Trivedi; 2nd place: Andrew Gort; 1st place: Jacob Spicuzza
Engineering Graphics - 2nd place: Roger Hickey, Simran Patel; 1st place: Kalen Fellows
English - 2nd place: Mei Ryan
Math - 2nd place: Jacob Spicuzza, Manas Trivedi; 1st place: Chase Duncan
Sectional-1st place team
Biology- 3rd place: Andres Luna; 2nd place: Sam Holas; 1st place: Chase Duncan
Chemistry - 3rd place: Tyler Fossum
Computer Science - 3rd place: Jacob Spicuzza; 2nd place: Manas Trivedi; 1st place: Andrew Gort
Engineering Graphics - 3rd place: Simran Patel; 2nd place: Kalen Fellows; 1st place: Roger Hickey
Math - 3rd place: Tyler Fossum, 2nd place: Manas Trivedi; 1st place: Chase Duncan
State-1st place team-State Champions!
Biology- 1st place:Chase Duncan
Chemistry - 4th place: Sam Holas; 2nd: Kalen Fellows; 1st place: Tyler Fossum
Computer Science - 4th place: Jacob Spicuzza
Engineering Graphics - 4th place: Kalen Fellows
Math - 1st place: Chase Duncan
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2018 Results
Regional - 2nd place team
Medalists:
Biology-3rd place: Rob Coronado, 2nd place: Aaren Manz, 1st place: Andres Luna
Chemistry-2nd place: Charlie Holas & Everett Robinson
Computer Science-3rd place: Manas Trivedi, 2nd place: Jacob Spicuzza, 1st place: Chase Duncan
Engineering Graphics--2nd place: Rob Coronado, 1st place: Eric Manuel
Math--2nd place: Dru Snider, 1st place: Chase Duncan
Sectional - 1st place team
Medalists:
Biology-3rd place Aaren Manz, 2nd place: Rob Coronado, 1st place: Eva Adams
Chemistry - 2nd place: Charlie Holas & Everett Robinson
Computer Science - 3rd place: Manas Trivedi, 1st place: Chase Duncan
Engineering Graphics - 3rd place: Dru Snider, 2nd place: Eric Manuel, 1st place: Everett Robinson
Math- 1st place: Chase Duncan
State - 5th place team
Medalists:
Chemistry - 2nd Place: Everett Robinson
Engineering Graphics - 3rd place: Rob Coronado, Dru Snider; 2nd place: Eric Manuel
Math - 2nd place: Chase Duncan
WYSE (Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering) is an academic competition formerly sponsored through the University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign. The Academic Challenge is a competitive series of tests created and administered by Eastern Illinois University now and are offered to high school students in Illinois and Missouri. The tests are now offered by more than 50 community colleges and universities are are designed to present a challenge to the brightest students.
Test material is drawn from senior high school and freshman level curricula. Written by teams of college university faculty, the subjects include biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering graphics, English, mathematics, and physics. Tests vary in length from 30 to 80 questions depending on the subject and students are given 40 minutes to complete each multiple-choice test. Each student competes in two of those subjects and practices throughout the year to prepare for the competitions.
The regional competition is usually the end of January/beginning of February. Students and teams that advance from Regional competition will compete in March at the Sectional competition. Again students can advance to one more level of competition at State in April.
RB's Academic Challenge Team has established a dedication to excellence as they have advanced to state many years and have three Team championships and several individual championships.