Clayton, Maplewood-Richmond Heights Win WYSE Math-Science Challenge

(LEBANON, Ill., February 6, 2015) - Almost 200 students from 11 St. Louis area high schools competed at McKendree University on Feb. 6 in the St. Louis Regional tournament of the 2015 Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering (WYSE) Academic Challenge. Clayton High School took the top honors trophy in the large school division and Maplewood-Richmond Heights High School won the small school division.

Participating high schools were Clayton, Duchesne, Hancock, Living Word Christian,Maplewood-Richmond Heights, Notre Dame, Orchard Farm, Trinity Catholic, Troy Buchanan, Villa Duchesne Oak Hill and Visitation Academy.

McKendree University has hosted the competition since 2004. Dr. Jim Feher, professor of computer science and computer information systems, chairs the WYSE advisory board.

The purpose of WYSE is to advance excellence in science and mathematics and to promote careers in engineering and the sciences. The Academic Challenge is a competitive series of multiple-choice tests in seven subjects, designed to motivate talented high school students to higher achievement in science and math.

Competing individually and as varsity and junior varsity teams in divisions based on their school’s enrollment size, students take tests in biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering graphics, English, math and physics. Test material is drawn from senior high school and freshman level college curricula and written by college and university faculty. Exams of increasing levels of difficulty are given at the regional, sectional and state finals.

Photos are posted.

Teams and individual students placing first and second will go on to compete at the sectional level for a chance to advance to the Missouri state finals at the Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla.

Students from southwestern Illinois high schools will take part in the WYSE Academic Challenge’s Illinois sectional at McKendree University on March 9.

 

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McKendree University is a College of Distinction, among “America’s 100 Best College Buys,” and recognized as a “Military Friendly School” by Victory Media. Founded in 1828, the historic Lebanon, Ill., campus is 25 miles from downtown St. Louis.