Jacobs High School WYSE Team finishes first at regional competition
The Jacobs High School Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering Team placed first at the regional competition at Elgin Community College, where each student competes against other schools by taking college-level tests in two of six categories. The categories include biology, chemistry, computer science, English and physics.
Awards are given to first through third places for individual scores. Team scores are calculated from the normalized two highest scores in each category. The total team score is the sum of five normalized scores, of which three must be in math, English and chemistry.
Ten of the 14 members received individual medals; in total, 17 medals were given to the Jacobs team, the most they’ve ever earned at the event.
They received the top team scores in biology, English, math and physics, competing with four other area high schools. This is the eighth time that Jacobs has received a first-place finish in the last 10 years of competition; 2013 makes the seventh consecutive first-place win for the team.
The entire team advanced to sectional competition in March at Northern Illinois University and received third place as a team, (second year in a row) having won four individual medals.
These four students advanced to the April 8 State WYSE competition at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign: Chad Franzen, first place, English; Justin Richmond, second place, physics; Rachel Rim, second place, English; and Robert Thomas, second place, chemistry.
More than 500 students from schools with 1,500-plus student enrollment competed at state. The results of the state competition were: Chad Franzen, fifth place, English; Rachel Rim, fifth place, English; Justin Richman, seventh place, physics; and Robert Thomas, fifth place, chemistry.
The coaches are Renita Rasmus and Phil Timm, science teachers at Jacobs High School in Algonquin. For more information, contact either coach via email at renita.rasmus@d300.org or Phillip.timm@d300.org.