Since 1985, MSU-West Plains has sponsored an academic competition among the best and brightest students in south-central Missouri and north-central Arkansas region. Every year, nearly 500 students from more than 20 high schools compete to demonstrate excellence in 17 academic subjects. Each student competes by division for medals. Whereas school teams compete under four different divisions according to enrollment (three for public schools). The grand prize is given to the overall winner irrespective to school size