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Schenectady High School
March 10 2010
Schenectady
High School Team Competes
in U.S. Department of Energy Science Bowl Competition
Five
Schenectady High School students teamed up to compete in the
U.S. Department of Energy 12th Annual National Science Bowl
competition on March 6 at Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory (KAPL).
The nationwide
academic competition tests students' knowledge in all areas of
science including chemistry, biology, earth science, math,
physics, astronomy and general science. Students are quizzed in
a fast paced question and answer format similar to that of
Jeopardy.
Teams are
comprised of four students, one alternate and two teachers, who
serve as advisor and coaches.
Schenectady's
team, which included juniors Joshua Fields and Adam
McIlravrey and sophomores Kumar Singh, Gabe Viscariello and
Brianna Vessells, finished 4-4, marking it the strongest finish
in Schenectady High School history. Schenectady, the only
urban school participating in the competition, defeated
Chittenango, Schoharie, South Colonie and Burnt Hills-Ballston
Lake.
To prepare for
the competition, the team practiced several afternoons after
school.
Schenectady was
coached by high school science teachers Peter Robinson and Agnes
Phillips.
The United
States Department of Energy launched the National Science Bowl
competition in 1991 to encourage high school students to excel
in science and math and to pursue careers in those fields. The
National Science Bowl's high school competition now involves
more than 13,000 students. DOE introduced the National Science
Bowl's competition for middle school students in 2002. It now
involves more than 5,000 students. The National Science Bowl is
the only science competition in the United States sponsored by a
federal agency.
The event was
also sponsored by General Electric volunteers, Bechtel and KAPL
Nova Society.
Pictured:
Joshua Fields, Adam McIlravey, Kumar Singh, Gage Viscariello,
Biranna Vessells and Coaches Peter Robinson and Agnes Phillips |
