Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering (WYSE) Academic Challenge Regional Competition
Each year, the COMPACT hosts the Regional WYSE competition for McLean County area students. WYSE began in Illinois in 1997 as an outreach of the University of Illinois College of Engineering. The first Executive Director of WYSE was Dave Powell, who served from 1997-2002. Tony Pitts, now of the U of I Physics Dept., served as the next Executive Director from 2002-2004. Current Executive Director, Mary Weaver, then took over WYSE at the U of I and continues in that role today.
Since 1997, the McLean County Community Compact has partnered with the University of Illinois College of Engineering and Illinois State University to offer the high level academic competition to the schools of McLean County. Approximately 300 students from 12 area high schools come to the competition to test in the areas of Physics, English, Chemistry, Biology, Math, Engineering Graphics, and Computer Science. This competition is offered throughout Illinois and other Midwestern states, and brings together some of the brightest high school students in our area. The top teams and individuals from the regional competition advance to the Sectional competition at Bradley University in Peoria, and then on to the State competition at the University of Illinois in the spring.
During the competition day, each student tests in two different subject areas. Presentations are also given to the students by Department Chairs from ISU and Heartland Community College. After the students are finished testing, there is a brief intermission competition before the winners of the various subjects are to be announced. The 2011 'Intermission Competition' was building a bridge out of Popsicle sticks and masking tape that could be strong enough to hold a weight. Winning groups were awarded prizes donated to the COMPACT by local businesses.
2011 WYSE Results
Participating Schools:
University High School
LeRoy High School
Heyworth High School
Bloomington High School
Normal Community High School
Normal Community West High School
Central Catholic High School
Tri-Valley High School
Olympia High School
Ridgeview High School
Lexington High School
El Paso Gridley High School
Top Team WYSE Winners
Heyworth High School, Division 300
Tri-Valley High School, Division 700
University High School, Division 1500
Normal Community High School, Unlimited
Division 300 Winners
Heyworth High School
Ridgeview High School
LeRoy High school
Division 700 Winners
Tri-Valley High School
Central Catholic High School
Olympia High School
Division 1500 Winner
University High School
Unlimited Division Winners
Normal Community High School
Bloomington High School
Normal Community West High School
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A program of the University of Illinois Extension.