Unionville High School, whose academic team took the county victory in March, will represent Chester County in the Pennsylvania State Academic Competition on Friday, May 2, at the Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg. 

Unionville will compete with approximately 20 other teams at the state competition, including West Chester East High School, the reigning state champion. The event, which is free and open to the public, is the pinnacle of the academic competition season. To secure a spot at the state level, high schools must first emerge victorious within their intermediate unit’s regional competition.

“Qualifying to compete in the Pennsylvania State Academic Competition takes an incredible amount of dedication, teamwork, and discipline,” said Jay Della Ragione, special events coordinator for the Chester County Intermediate Unit. “It’s a true testament to the students' hard work and commitment to excellence, and it’s a proud moment for Chester County to have both Unionville High School and West Chester East High School representing us at the state competition.”

Established in 1992, the Pennsylvania State Academic Competition began under the sponsorship of Representative Joseph Pitts (R-Chester County) who provided a $5,000 WAM grant to cover costs. The first annual competition was held in the House of Representatives on May 29, 1992, with 12 school districts representing 11 different intermediate units.

This year’s competition will be hosted by State Rep. John Lawrence (R-Chester County), supported by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), sponsored by the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA), and coordinated by the Chester County Intermediate Unit (CCIU). The team that achieves the state championship will receive a $2,000 scholarship for their high school, while the second and third place finalists will each receive $500 for their school.

“This competition is about so much more than answering questions and winning awards—it’s about students challenging themselves, working as a team, and pushing the boundaries of what they’ve learned,” said Della Ragione. “It’s incredibly rewarding to see these young minds grow through experiences that will stay with them well beyond their high school years.”

The Pennsylvania State Academic Competition promotes lifelong learning, celebrates academic achievement, and enhances self-confidence. High school competitors learn how to succeed as members of a team through healthy yet challenging opportunities to develop academically, socially, and personally. For more information about the Pennsylvania State Academic Competition, please visit www.cciu.org/state-academic-competition.