EIU Media Relations

EIU hosts ‘Academic Challenge’ for state’s top high school scholars

(Charleston, IL) – With so much enthusiasm surrounding the 2024 eclipse, EIU is excited to highlight some other bright stars demonstrating their own unique powers as the region’s top high school academic scholars compete at the 2024 Academic Challenge at EIU beginning April 9.

Approximately 1,400 high school students representing close to 100 high schools will compete at the EIU event from Tuesday, April 9 through Thursday, April 11. This week’s event is the culmination of earlier sectional and regional competitions occurring earlier in the spring semester(s). EIU’s events will take place in the Grand and University Ballrooms of the MLK Jr. University Union, on EIU’s campus at 600 Lincoln Avenue in Charleston.

These high-achieving high school students will compete with one another by taking two exams of their choice in the subjects of biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering graphics, English, math, and physics. High-scoring students in first through fifth place will win individual medals, and the highest scoring schools in first through fifth place will win team trophies.

The Academic Challenge event is a high school competition that was created and conducted annually by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign College of Engineering WYSE Outreach Program for about 40 years. Beginning this year, the School of Extended Learning at Eastern Illinois University is overseeing the competition with the assistance of many partner institutions throughout Illinois and Missouri.

EIU prepares students to accomplish their life goals through a combination of quality academics, personal relationships, and both on-campus and online learning opportunities. For more information about Eastern Illinois University, including its broad array of academic and career readiness programs, or any of EIU’s other community-based services and opportunities, visit eiu.edu or call EIU’s public information office at (217) 581-7400.