Calloway County High School Team #1 won this year’s West Kentucky Regional Science Bowl on Friday, culminating months of planning by volunteers and coaches for an event touted as the region’s most prominent science competition for high school students.
Office of Environmental Management
February 6, 2024
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Calloway County High School teammates Amber Wu, left, and Connor Pile discuss a bonus question during the 2024 DOE West Kentucky Regional Science Bowl.
PADUCAH, Ky. — Calloway County High School Team #1 won this year’s West Kentucky Regional Science Bowl on Friday, culminating months of planning by volunteers and coaches for an event touted as the region’s most prominent science competition for high school students.
The five-member team will compete in DOE’s National Science Bowl finals in Washington, D.C., from April 25-29.
“Every team that competed in this year’s competition should be proud of the effort and time they put into preparing for the science bowl. This event provides an excellent opportunity for students in our region to participate in a first-class competition,” Paducah Site Lead April Ladd said. “The volunteers and coaches dedicate numerous hours to deliver a platform showcasing the gifted students in our local communities.”
Calloway County High School Team #1 coach Erica Gray, far left, poses with, from left, Portsmouth/Paducah Project Office Program Analyst Robert “Buz” Smith, Calloway County Team #1 students Aiden Hooper, Connor Pile, Amber Wu, Sean Williams, and Max Chapman, and Paducah Site Lead April Ladd.
The regional tournament is a quick-recall, fast-paced, question-and-answer contest. During the competition, high school students are quizzed on their knowledge of biology, chemistry, Earth and space, energy, mathematics, and physics.
Owensboro High School Team #1 finished second and Madisonville North Hopkins High School took third place in the regional competition.
“Calloway County High School is excited to represent western Kentucky at the National Science Bowl. We are so grateful for the local, regional and national investment in our students and the continued emphasis on science, math and engineering education. Winning the regional science bowl is an honor for our students and coaches who have worked many months preparing for the competition,” said Erica Gray, Calloway County High School team coach.
Portsmouth/Paducah Project Office Program Analyst Robert “Buz” Smith, far left, and Paducah Site Lead April Ladd, far right, pose with runner-up, Owensboro High School Team #1. Teammates include, from left, students Adrion Perez, Kaleb Horn, David Daniel, Jacob Ladwig and Landon Block.
Portsmouth/Paducah Project Office Program Analyst Robert “Buz” Smith, far left, and Paducah Site Lead April Ladd, far right, pose with second-runner-up, the Madisonville North Hopkins High School team. Pictured are, front row, from left, coach Linda Gigliette, Hope Calhoun and Albany Ray; and back row, from left, EJ Williams, Kaylee Brandon, River McDurmon and coach Jeremy Davis.
Also competing in this year’s regional match were Ballard Memorial, Christian County, Fulton County, Hopkinsville, Marshall County, McCracken County, Murray, and Paducah Tilghman high schools.
The first-place high school team in the regional tournament received $1,200 for its school.
The regional event is sponsored and organized by EM Portsmouth/Paducah Project Office employees and contractors. More than 110 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 here.
Each year, about 10,000 students from across the country compete in the national competition. Since the event began 33 years ago, more than 344,000 students have competed.
-Contributors: Dylan Nichols
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