Congratulations to our Academic Challenge for Engineering and Science (ACES) team for advancing to the ACES State Finals after earning second place (less than one point behind the first place team) at the ACES Sectional held at Southwestern Illinois College on March 6!

Under the guidance of moderator Mr. Scott Timmermann, the following fourteen students tested their knowledge in biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering graphics, English, and mathematics: Alyssa Becker, Alex Brandenburger, Ethan Deerhake, Matthew Fuehne, Taylor Goring, Wren Heiligenstein, Blake Kloeckner, Colby Litteken, Tommy Marron, Collin McCray, Jun Moon, Alden Moss, AJ Mueth, and Katie Toennies.

In addition, the following ACES team members earned individual recognition: Jun Moon, first in Chemistry and Math; AJ Mueth, first in Engineering Graphics and second in Computer Science; Katie Toennies, first in Engineering Graphics; Taylor Goring, second in English and third in Engineering Graphics; and Blake Kloeckner, third in math.

We wish the team members “good luck” as they prepare to compete in the ACES State Final, which is currently scheduled for April 21 at Eastern Illinois University.

Pictured after earning second place at the Academic Challenge for Engineering and Science (ACES) Sectional held on March 6 are Mater Dei ACES team members (front, from left) AJ Mueth, Wren Heiligenstein, Matthew Fuehne, Jun Moon, Collin McCray, Alyssa Becker, Katie Toennies, Colby Litteken; (back, from left) Blake Kloeckner, Alex Brandenburger, Alden Moss, Tommy Marron, Ethan Deerhake, and Taylor Goring. The team is schedule to compete in the ACES State Final at Eastern Illinois University on April 21.