INA, Ill. (February 24, 2023) — This year marked a special milestone for the Annual Academic Challenge in Engineering and Sciences (ACES) Regional Competition hosted by Rend Lake College on February 8. For the first time since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, all participating high schools were able to send their students to participate in-person.
The competition included students from Benton, Christopher, Hamilton County, Mt. Vernon, Pinckneyville, Sesser-Valier, Waltonville, Wayne City, Webber Township, and Zeigler-Royalton. The event tested students in subjects such as Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering Graphics, English, Mathematics, and Physics. The return to in-person competition was a celebratory moment for all involved.
"The ACES Regional annual event hosted by RLC is a major Division highlight," said RLC Dean of Arts & Sciences Andrea Banach. "It was a pleasure to meet and interact with the academic standouts from the RLC district high schools following the ACES morning testing and enjoy lunch and planned activities. It is exciting to see the ingenuity and grit demonstrated on the Design Challenge projects, and the previous winners listed on the travelling trophy awarded for this event. Waltonville High School won this year’s Design Challenge, but various district high schools have won this event throughout the years including; Mt. Vernon Township High School, Pinckneyville Community High School and Webber High School."
MEET THE TEAMS
BENTON CONSOLIDATED HIGH SCHOOL
Front Row L-R — Bryce Eubanks, Gabrielle Webb, Eli Lampley, Jacie Minor, Payton Heater, Amelia Morris, Bryli Minor
Back Row L-R — Brendan Barkley-Elders, Joey Copple, Zane Harmon, Brockton Miller, Jeremiah Key, Blakely Johnson
CHRISTOPHER HIGH SCHOOL
Front Row L-R — Kailey Jolly, Payton Flatt, Hanna Burzynski, Amiah hargrove, Kaili Gilbert, Landree Dawe, Madison Brower
Back Row L-R — Sean Roye, Tyler Mueller, Riley Eicklemann, Owen Glidewell, Trey Cole, Matthew Traiteur, Daniel Wilcox
HAMILTON COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
Front Row L-R — Emilee Cox, Cady Zellers, Grace Lenard, Aubrey Kaufman, Taylor Millenbine, Breanna Osinski, Morgan Heil
Back Row L-R —Shawn Combs, Jace Cross, Wyatt Hamson, Riley Jones, Gavin Hansen, Jason Ni
MT. VERNON TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL
Front Row L-R — Brynlee Thomason , Alexia McGuire, Faith Barbau, Kaitlyn Fisher, Cassandra White, Ann Binu, Paulina Kosierkiewicz
Middle Row L-R — Nolan Armstrong, Kaden Payne, Maddux Randall, Alistair Clodi, Molly Federici, Ryan Bendersky, Samuel Buesking
Back Row L-R — Caleb Kuschel, Eli Harris, Gabe Willis, Joseph Jones, Charlie Houle, Ryan Maines, Jackson Mills
PINCKNEYVILLE COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL
Front Row L-R — Faith Smith, Karlie Shockley, Sallee Collins, Jaleigh moss, Carly Heisner, Bailey Niedbalski, Sarah Restoff
Back Row L-R — Carter Tripp, Dustin Palmer, Hunter Halstead, Andrew Wagner, Chase Heinemeyer, Layne Jones, Hunter Trail, James Davis
SESSER-VALIER HIGH SCHOOL
Front Row L-R — Sedona Packer, Mollie Mitchell, Emerie Latta, Zoey Mabry, Hannah Utlaut, Aerin Cockrum, Will Watson
Back Row L-R — Aaliyah Hawk, Cordelia Lemons, Hudson Stubblefield, Carson Hoffard, Luke Berry, Keegan Harris, Colt Packer
WALTONVILLE HIGH SCHOOL
Front Row L-R — Allen Heck II, Daniel Johnson, Nic Barclay, Jackson Lamczyk, Wyatt Elliston, Thomas Johnson, Tryton Fassett
Back Row L-R — Kaylee Pyszka, MJ Rheude
WAYNE CITY HIGH SCHOOL
Front Row L-R — Alexis Green, Addison Siedel, Jovi Horton, Madeline Boyd
Back Row L-R — AJ Moore, Liam Smith, Trevor Bailey, Jade Weaver
WEBBER HIGH SCHOOL
Front Row L-R — Raymond Andrews, Amma Thompson, Julia Bruce, Alexis Legg, Maia Schultz, Emi Caronongan, Laney Hails
Back Row L-R — Wyatt Jackson, Aidan Reed, Caleb hardy, Tanner Johnson, Savanna Hulbert, Audrey Frey, Anita Frey
ZEIGLER-ROYALTON HIGH SCHOOL
Front Row L-R — Bella Bate, Shauntaya Bambo, Hannah Sanders, Melissa Walter, Kynzi Kirk, Brylee Martin, Cadence Trusty
Back Row L-R — Shelby Grove, Hayley Pasquino, Ashlyn Stayton, Bam Edmundson, Brett Bowles, Carson Longwell, Ruthie Rose
2023 ACES Regional Results
Division 300
Biology
1st
Will Watson — Sesser-Valier High School
2nd
Landree Dawe — Christopher High School
3rd
Audrey Frey — Webber High School
Cordelia Lemons — Sesser-Valier High School
Luke Barry — Sesser-Valier High School
Chemistry
1st
Trey Cole — Christopher High School
2nd
Sean Roye — Christopher High School
3rd
Emerie Latta — Sesser-Valier High School
Computational Science
1st
Ashlyn Stayton — Zeigler-Royalton High School
2nd
Tanner Johnson — Webber High School
Tommy Johnson — Waltonville Cmty Unit SD
3rd
Bam Edmundson — Zeigler-Royalton High School
Ruthie Rose Zeigler-Royalton High School
Jade Weaver — Wayne City High School
Matthew Traiteur — Christopher High School
Nic Barclay — Waltonville Cmty Unit SD 1
Engineering Graphics
1st
Wyatt Jackson — Webber High School
2nd
Hayley Pasquino — Zeigler-Royalton High School
Caleb Hardy — Webber High School
3rd
Jade Weaver — Wayne City High School
Bella Bate — Zeigler-Royalton High School
English
1st
Hudson Stubblefield — Sesser-Valier High School
2nd
Savanna Hulbert — Webber High School
3rd
A. J. Moore — Wayne City High School
Mathematics
1st
Hudson Stubblefield — Sesser-Valier High School
2nd
Kailey Jolly Christopher High School
3rd
Aerin Cockrum — Sesser-Valier High School
Savanna Hulbert — Webber High School
Physics
1st
Cadence Trusty — Zeigler-Royalton High School
Aerin Cockrum Sesser-Valier High School
2nd
Ruthie Rose — Zeigler-Royalton High School
Brett Bowles — Zeigler-Royalton High School
Cordelia Lemons — Sesser-Valier High School
3rd
Emeline Caronongan — Webber High School
TEAM RESULTS - 300 Division
1st — 478.3783784 — 363 — Sesser-Valier High School
2nd — 429.523126—159—Christopher High School
3rd — 400.3816975 — 416 — Webber High School
4th — 386.7207207 — 437 — Zeigler-Royalton High School
5th — 354.3172551 — 409 — Waltonville Cmty Unit SD 1
6th — 346.8288288 — 455 — Wayne City High School
Division 700
Biology
1st
Riley Jones — Hamilton County High School
2nd
Faith Smith — Pinckneyville Community High School
3rd
James Davis — Pinckneyville Community High School
Karli Shockley — Pinckneyville Community High School
Chemistry
1st
Layne Jones — Pinckneyville Community High School
2nd
Wyatt Hamson — Hamilton County High School
3rd
Jeremiah Kay — Benton Consolidated High School
Computational Science
1st
Hunter Trail — Pinckneyville Community High School
2nd
Hunter Halsted — Pinckneyville Community High School
3rd
Jason Ni — Hamilton County High School
Engineering Graphics
1st
Andrew Wagner — Pinckneyville Community High School
Bryce Eubanks — Benton Consolidated High School
Joey Copple — Benton Consolidated High School
2nd
Emilee Cox — Hamilton County High School
3rd
Gavin Hansen — Hamilton County High School
English
1st
Chase Heinemeyer — Pinckneyville Community High School
2nd
Karli Shockley — Pinckneyville Community High School
3rd
Carly Heisner — Pinckneyville Community High School
Salle Collins — Pinckneyville Community High School
Mathematics
1st
Layne Jones — Pinckneyville Community High School
2nd
Chase Heinemeyer — Pinckneyville Community High School
3rd
Bryce Eubanks — Benton Consolidated High School
Gabrielle Webb — Benton Consolidated High School
Physics
1st
Jeremiah Kay — Benton Consolidated High School
2nd
Brockton Miller — Benton Consolidated High School
3rd
Morgan Heil — Hamilton County High School
TEAM RESULTS - 700 Division
1st — 500 — 326 — Pinckneyville Community High School
2nd — 447.5755543 — 118 — Benton Consolidated High School
3rd — 414.5251239 — 215 — Hamilton County High School
Division 1500
Biology
1st
Ann Binu — Mt Vernon Township High School
2nd
Maddux Randall Mt Vernon Township High School
Molly Federici Mt Vernon Township High School
3rd
Alistair Clodi — Mt Vernon Township High School
Chemistry
1st
Maddux Randall — Mt Vernon Township High School
2nd
Ryan Maines — Mt Vernon Township High School
3rd
Joseph Jones — Mt Vernon Township High School
Computational Science
1st
Nolan Armstrong — Mt Vernon Township High School
Engineering Graphics
1st
Cassie White — Mt Vernon Township High School
2nd
Eli Harris — Mt Vernon Township High School
3rd
Jackson Mills — Mt Vernon Township High School
English
1st
Charlie Houle — Mt Vernon Township High School
2nd
Ryan Maines — Mt Vernon Township High School
3rd
Paulina Kosierkiewicz — Mt Vernon Township High School
Faith Barban — Mt Vernon Township High School
Mathematics
1st
Charlie Houle — Mt Vernon Township High School
2nd
Sam Buesking — Mt Vernon Township High School
3rd
Ryan Bendersky — Mt Vernon Township High School
Paulina Kosierkiewicz — Mt Vernon Township High School
Physics
1st
Kaitlyn Fisher — Mt Vernon Township High School
2nd
Eli Harris — Mt Vernon Township High School
3rd
Sam Buesking — Mt Vernon Township High School
Team Results 1500 Division
1st — 500 — 290 — Mt Vernon Township High School
Overall Exam Results
Biology
Will Watson – Sesser-Valier HS
Chemistry
Layne Jones – Pinckneyville HS
Computational Science
Ashlyn Stayton – Zeigler-Royalton HS
Engineering Graphics
Cassie White – Mt Vernon HS
English
Hudson Stubblefield – Sesser-Valier HS
Mathematics
Charlie Houle – Mt Vernon HS
Physics
Jeremiah Kay – Benton HS
Kaitlyn Fisher – Mt Vernon HS
