Thayer High School took top honors in the 37th annual Interscholastic Contest held April 5 at Missouri State University-West Plains.
Organized by the university’s Public Affairs Committee, the daylong academic event drew about 420 students from 22 southern Missouri schools.
The high schools that returned from 2023 included Clever, Houston, Mtn. View-Birch Tree Liberty, Marshfield, Mtn. Grove, Oregon Howell R-III (Koshkonong), Thayer, Van Buren, West Plains, Willard, Willow Springs and Winona. New schools attending in 2024 included Bakersfield, Springfield Glendale, Hartville, Lutie, Ozarks Christian Academy, Springfield Parkview, Plato, Salem, Summersville and Viola.
Nineteen different academic subjects were offered in the contest. Students were tested in their knowledge in various subjects, ranging from the typical academic pillars of English, math, sciences and history to additional subjects like agriculture, flash fiction, speech, philosophy and, new this year, poetry.
The teams were divided into three divisions based on school size. Each division was awarded first, second and third place for each contest. The schools that scored highest in each division were awarded first-place trophies.
Division I winners were Glendale, first place; Willard, second; and West Plains, third..
In Division II, Clever took first place; Houston, second; and Salem, third.
Thayer won first in Division III; Ozark Christian Academy, second; and Plato, third.
Scores were then evaluated to determine overall winners for each contest, and students were awarded based solely on their individual performance, not within their division.
Schools were then compared to each other, and an overall winner was determined from the performances of each school, irrespective of division. The overall competition winner was determined by a point system based on the overall scores in each category. Thayer earned the coveted overall winner trophy in the contest. Clever placed second overall, and Willard, third overall.
Five schools competed in Division I, five in Division II and 12 in Division III.
“The Interscholastic Contest is one of the most important academic events of the year,” said Jessica Banning, a nursing instructor at MSU-WP and a member of the Public Affairs Committee. “It allows the region’s best students to come to the campus to demonstrate their academic capacities and celebrate their knowledge and commitment to academic success. The students can also connect with other students from southern Missouri and build lasting relationships.”
“To ensure the event’s success, it took the entire campus collaborating as a team,” she continued. “As a committee, there are no words that can express how thankful we are that everyone came out to help with this event. Faculty, staff, and student ambassadors all worked hard to provide the incredibly talented students in our area with an unforgettable event highlighting their academic gifts.”
“There were many pieces moving behind the scenes and many unsung heroes who helped make this event possible. There are not enough words to say ‘thank you’,” added Ana Estrella, assistant professor of biology/biomedical science and chair of the Public Affairs Committee.
For more information about the Interscholastic Contest and how to participate next year, contact Estrella at WPISC@MissouriState.edu.
