Missouri’s brightest high school students will compete in the state finals of the annual Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering (WYSE) Academic Challenge at the University of Missouri-Rolla April 20.

WYSE administered regional academic challenge tests at community college locations throughout Missouri in February and March. About 150 high school students in Missouri will participate in the state finals of the academic challenge this year, says Dr. Bill Fahrenholtz, assistant professor of ceramic engineering at UMR and Missouri WYSE coordinator.

Students who participate in the WYSE Academic Challenge are tested in English, mathematics, chemistry, physics, biology, engineering graphics and computer science. Individual prizes are awarded based on student scores in each subject. Team prizes are awarded based on the combined scores of the students from each school. First- and second-place teams from each regional competition will advance to the sectional level. The top teams from the sectional competitions will advance to state finals to be held at UMR on Wednesday, April 20.

For more information about competing in WYSE’s statewide challenge or hosting a regional competition, contact Fahrenholtz at (573) 341-6343 or email billf@mst.edu. More information is also available online at web.mst.edu/~wyse.