The academic team from B. Reed Henderson High School pose with their awards as the 2026 champions of the Chester County Academic Competition.
On Tuesday, March 24, 2026, B. Reed Henderson High School emerged victorious over 23 other Chester County schools in the Chester County Academic Competition, which is organized by the Chester County Intermediate Unit (CCIU) and sponsored by the Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union (FMFCU) and CCRES Educational and Behavioral Health Services. B. Reed Henderson High School will represent Chester County at the Pennsylvania State Academic Competition in Harrisburg on Friday, May 1, 2026.
The competition was fierce throughout the evening, beginning with the top Junior Varsity (JV) teams, Conestoga, Downingtown STEM Academy, and Unionville, vying for the JV championship. As the audience cheered on the teams, Conestoga High School proved to be the team to beat, buzzing their way to become the JV champions.
During the varsity match, the excitement was tangible. In an exciting match with Unionville High School and Downingtown STEM Academy, B. Reed Henderson High School demonstrated outstanding gameplay to claim victory by a narrow margin, securing the county championship in the final moments of the competition.
When asked what advice he would give to students participating in CCIU’s academic competition, B. Reed Henderson High School student Kyle Meade answered, “Make sure to stick with it and keep going to practices and take notes on new information to learn more. Doing something small every day to help increase your knowledge adds up over the course of a season or multiple seasons, and work together with your team to help everyone learn more and improve at the game.”
“What makes the Chester County Academic Competition so special isn’t just the competition itself; it’s what it reveals about our students,” said Jay Della Ragione, special events coordinator for the CCIU. “They come together to showcase the critical thinking, teamwork, and genuine passion for learning that make Chester County’s schools something to be proud of.”
As county champions, the varsity team from B. Reed Henderson High School won a $2,000 scholarship, which was underwritten by FMFCU. Downingtown STEM Academy was awarded a $1,000 scholarship, and Unionville High School won a $500 scholarship. To learn more about the Chester County Academic Competition, which has been proudly sponsored by FMFCU for over 17 years, please visit www.cciu.org/academic-competition.
