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Gatton Academy Wins DOE West Kentucky Regional Science Bowl

Gatton Academy of Bowling Green won the 10th Annual DOE West Kentucky Regional Science Bowl on Friday, Feb. 16.

Office of Environmental Management

February 20, 2018
minute read time
Gatton Academy winners, left to right: EM Portsmouth/Paducah Project Office's (PPPO) Buz Smith, Phillip Wilkerson, Anas Gondal, Benjamin Kash, Arthur “Jack” Thacker, Ethan Brown, Coach Cheryl Kirby-Stokes, and PPPO’s Don Dihel.
Gatton Academy winners, left to right: EM Portsmouth/Paducah Project Office's (PPPO) Buz Smith, Phillip Wilkerson, Anas Gondal, Benjamin Kash, Arthur “Jack” Thacker, Ethan Brown, Coach Cheryl Kirby-Stokes, and PPPO’s Don Dihel.

PADUCAH, Ky. – Gatton Academy of Bowling Green won the 10th Annual DOE West Kentucky Regional Science Bowl on Friday, Feb. 16. 

   The five-member high school team will travel to Washington, D.C. to compete in the national finals of the DOE National Science Bowl (NSB) April 26-30. 

   Competitors in the all-day tournament, a quick-recall, fast-paced question-and-answer contest, were quizzed on their knowledge of biology, chemistry, Earth and space science, physics, energy, and mathematics. 

   “Thank you to DOE and everyone who supports students in STEM,” said Cheryl Kirby-Stokes, Gatton Academy coach. “We also want to thank all of the great teams we got to meet today. It was a wonderful day of competition and fun.”  

   STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

McCracken County High School students (left to right) David Dodd, Drew Schofield, Katelyn Woodard collaborate on a science problem during the competition.
McCracken County High School students (left to right) David Dodd, Drew Schofield, Katelyn Woodard collaborate on a science problem during the competition.

   McCracken County High School finished second, and Calloway County High School finished third in the regional competition. 

   “The opportunities that DOE provides are incredible and being able to compete at the science bowl every year for the past six years has been phenomenal,” Gatton Academy student Ethan Brown said. “Although at times the matches can be stressful, being able to compete with students all across the state can be exciting.” 

   The event is sponsored and organized by employees and contractors from EM’s Portsmouth/Paducah Project Office (PPPO). More than 100 volunteers serve as moderators, judges, technical advisors, and scorekeepers. DOE’s Office of Science manages the NSB Finals competition. 

   Click here for more information on the NSB.

EM PPPO's Paducah Site Lead Jennifer Woodard (far left) & PPPO Manager Robert Edwards (second from right) receive a joint proclamation from Paducah Mayor Brandi Harless & McCracken County Judge Executive Robert Leeper designating "DOE Science Bowl Month.
EM PPPO's Paducah Site Lead Jennifer Woodard (far left) & PPPO Manager Robert Edwards (second from right) receive a joint proclamation from Paducah Mayor Brandi Harless & McCracken County Judge Executive Robert Leeper designating "DOE Science Bowl Month.
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