There will be no classes at Chadron State College Friday, as the school welcomes some 1,500 students from over 40 high schools in Nebraska, Wyoming, Colorado, and South Dakota for the 53rd annual CSC Scholastic Contest.

One of the oldest and largest events of its kind in the Midwest, the scholastic contest attracts the region’s top students to compete in over 40 subject areas.

There are team sweepstakes trophies, medals for the top 3 in each test, and a 1-year tuition scholarship at CSC for winning seniors.

Contest co-chairman and CSC faculty member Dr Jim Wright says it was started in 1961 to give area high school students the chance at academic as well as athletic competition, and he sees the excitement of competition still there among today’s students.

The subject areas of the Scholastic Contest have changed over the years, reflecting changes in technology, student interest, and academic focus.

Although there are no college classes on Scholastic Day and many CSC students go home for a long weekend, Wright says the entire campus community pitches in to help with faculty giving and scoring the tests while staff and students put on activities and displays at locations around the campus for the high schoolers to enjoy while not testing.

While academic competition and excellence is the goal of the contest and it’s not officially a recruiting event, Wright says it is indeed a top-flight recruiting tool for Chadron State. He says for many of the competitors, it’s their first visit to the CSC campus and for some it’s their first time on any college campus.

Results of the Chadron State Scholastic Contest will be posted online throughout the day at www.csc.edu/scholastic .