PADUCAH, Ky. — Mark Thang, an 11th-grade student at Calloway County High School in Murray, was recently selected as the winner of the 2019 West Kentucky U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Regional Science Bowl t-shirt design contest.

Local middle- and high-school students were given the design challenge by DOE’s Portsmouth/Paducah Project Office (PPPO) as part of the annual science competition to be held in February. Thang’s school received a $500 prize.

Thang said he learned about the contest in a graphic communications course offered through the high school. In his design, he blends a variety of subject areas related to science and mathematics using symbols and words to convey a positive message about the talented students who will be competing in the competition.

Thang is an exchange student from Vietnam. He has been in the United States for about four months and says he is excited about the opportunities available to him here as a student.

“Going on an exchange program is a great chance for me to immerse myself in the life of a real American,” Thang says. “I live with a native host family, study in a public school with Americans, and (I’ve) joined in activities like the Beta Club. I have had a great time here so far.”

This is the second year for the DOE Science Bowl t-shirt design contest and the 11th year for the DOE Science Bowl competition. The Science Bowl attracts dozens of schools and hundreds of regional students to compete for the opportunity to advance to the national level.

“The Science Bowl is a wonderful opportunity for students in our local communities to utilize their quick-recall skills, refresh their memories of key scientific topics and compete against some of the region’s most advanced students,” said Jennifer Woodard, PPPO’s Paducah Site Lead.

The competition will be hosted at the University of Kentucky’s College of Engineering Paducah Campus in Crounse Hall. High school students will compete on February 1. Middle school students will compete on February 15.