Gatton Academy won the West Kentucky Regional Science Bowl Feb. 1 and will advance to the National Finals in April in Washington, D.C.
Gatton Academy's winning team (Left to right): Jennifer Woodard, DOE Paducah Site Lead, Rithwik Ghanta, Hasitha Ramisetti, Anas Gondal, David Suarez, Cheryl Kirby-Stokes, Ngoc Nguien, and Buz Smith, DOE Science Bowl Coordinator
Dylan Nichols, Four Rivers Nuclear Partnership, LLC

PADUCAH, Ky. — Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Bowling Green won the U.S. Department of Energy’s West Kentucky Regional Science Bowl Feb. 1, earning its five-member team a trip to Washington, D.C., to compete in the DOE National Science Bowl® Finals April 25- 29.

Competitors in the all-day Science Bowl 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.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for our Gatton students, who are from across Kentucky, to compete on a regional level and then on a national level in D.C. in April. This would not be possible without the DOE sponsoring this competition,” said Gatton Academy Coach Cheryl Kirby-Stokes.

McCracken County High School finished second and Paducah Tilghman High School finished third in the regional competition. Other high schools competing at the University of Kentucky College of Engineering-Paducah Campus were Ballard Memorial, Cairo Junior/Senior High, Calloway County, Fulton County, Gatton Academy, Graves County, Henderson County, Hickman County, Marshall County, Massac County, Mayfield, St. Mary and Union County High Schools.

“This event gives students in western Kentucky a great opportunity to showcase their talents, while competing for a place at the national level,” said DOE Paducah Site Lead Jennifer Woodard. “We are excited to see Gatton Academy compete in the national competition in April.”

Sponsors of the 11th-Annual DOE Regional Science Bowl include DOE, the University of Kentucky College of Engineering—Paducah Campus, the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce, Petter Business Systems, Four Rivers Nuclear Partnership, LLC, Paducah Economic Development, Beltline Electric, Geosyntec Consultants, Health Works Medical, LLC, Paducah Water, InSolves, Swift and Staley, Veolia, Pepsi Mid-America, Northwind, Pro2Serve, HDR, Geo Consultants, Chase Environmental Group, Mid-America Conversion Services, Summit Environmental Services, Marshall County Golf Cart, Domtar and Crystal Springs Water*.
 
The event is sponsored and organized by employees and contractors of DOE’s Portsmouth/Paducah Project Office. More than 100 volunteers serve as moderators, judges, technical advisors and scorekeepers. DOE’s Office of Science manages the National Science Bowl Finals competition. More information is available at http://science.energy.gov/wdts/nsb/.

McCracken County High School students Evie Dukes, Mason Wooten, Ella McBee and Jake Mitchell compete in a quick-recall, fast-paced question-and-answer contest at this year’s DOE Regional Science Bowl.
McCracken County High School students Evie Dukes, Mason Wooten, Ella McBee and Jake Mitchell compete in a quick-recall, fast-paced question-and-answer contest at this year’s DOE West Kentucky Regional Science Bowl.
Dylan Nichols, Four Rivers Nuclear Partnership, LLC
cCracken County High School: (Front row, l-r) Jennifer Woodard, DOE Paducah Site Lead, Xander Norment, Ella McBee, Evie Dukes. Back row: Jake Mitchell, Mason Wooten, Matt Shelton, MCHS Coach and Buz Smith, DOE Science Bowl Coordinator
Second-place McCracken County High School: (Front row, l-r) Jennifer Woodard, DOE Paducah Site Lead, Xander Norment, Ella McBee, Evie Dukes. Back row: Jake Mitchell, Mason Wooten, Matt Shelton, MCHS Coach, and Buz Smith, DOE Science Bowl Coordinator
Dylan Nichols, Four Rivers Nuclear Partnership, LLC
Third-place Paducah Tilghman High School (left to right): Jennifer Woodard, DOE Paducah Site Lead, Samuel Lambert, Ryan Chua, Christine Wynn, PTHS Coach, Buz Smith, DOE Science Bowl Coordinator. Back row: Travis Trimble, Austin Yarbrough, Lance Butler
Third-place Paducah Tilghman High School (front row, l-r): Jennifer Woodard, DOE Paducah Site Lead, Samuel Lambert, Ryan Chua, Christine Wynn, PTHS Coach, Buz Smith, DOE Science Bowl Coordinator. Back row: Travis Trimble, Austin Yarbrough, Lance Butler
Dylan Nichols, Four Rivers Nuclear Partnership, LLC

 

*Listing of event sponsors or contributors does not denote or imply endorsement by the Department of Energy, the Government of the United States, or their contractors.