By Shelby Jones and Kelsey McIntosh

WYSE ( Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering) is an annual competition intended to foster excellence in mathematics and science in the youth. The Academic Challenge takes place in Illinois and Missouri. On Wednesday, February 4 at Olney Central College any Junior or Senior who has signed up can participate in the WYSE Academic Challenge. Each school can take up to 14 students.

The program contains seven different categories: math, biology, chemistry, physics, English, computer science, and engineering graphics. The school’s team score is the combined highest two scores in math, biology, chemistry, physics, and English.

The students have 40 minutes to complete multiple-choice tests that range in length from 30 questions (computer science) to 100 questions (English).

Teams and individual students who place 1st or 2nd at the regional at OCC go to the sectional at Eastern Illinois University.

In 2014 Flora students Jadon Bennett received 2nd in computer science and Gideon Raley got 3rd in physics. Flora High School has participated in this Challenge for 10 years.

Students prepare for the academic challenge by taking sample tests supplied by Dr. Drake and Mrs. Hutcheson.

If any students qualify for Sectionals it will be between March 1 and 16 and Illinois State Finals will take place at the I-Hotel and Conference Center on April 13 – 16.