Calloway County Middle School Team #1 on Friday won DOE’s West Kentucky Regional Science Bowl, an event recognized as the region’s most notable science competition for middle school students.
Office of Environmental Management
February 13, 2024
minute read time
Hayden Loveless, left, listens to Calloway County Middle School Science Bowl Team #1 members during a bonus question at the DOE West Kentucky Regional Science Bowl.
PADUCAH, Ky. — Calloway County Middle School Team #1 on Friday won DOE’s West Kentucky Regional Science Bowl, an event recognized as the region’s most notable science competition for middle school students.
The five-member team will now compete in DOE’s National Science Bowl finals in Washington, D.C., from April 25-29.
“We are so thankful for the opportunities that DOE provides for our students in western Kentucky. It is always an honor to compete in the DOE West Kentucky Regional Science Bowl. They give our students the support to dream big,” Calloway County Middle School Team #1 Coach Scott Pile said.
In other recent Kentucky Science Bowl news, Calloway County High School Team #1 won this year’s West Kentucky Regional Science Bowl on Feb. 2, culminating months of planning by volunteers and coaches for an event touted as the region’s most prominent science competition for high school students.
EM Portsmouth/Paducah Project Office Program Analyst Robert “Buz” Smith, far left, and EM Paducah Site Lead April Ladd, back row, far right, pose with DOE West Kentucky Regional Science Bowl champion Calloway County Middle School Team #1 team members, from left, Colin Naber, Ava Bogard, Theodore Perlow, Ella Martin, Hayden Loveless and coach Scott Pile.
Fifteen middle school teams competed during this year’s regional competition, an event celebrating its 16th year. Volunteers conducted extensive training to prepare coaches, volunteers and competitors in advance of the event.
Heath Middle School Team #1 finished second and the North Marshall Middle School Team finished third in the regional competition.
Other schools competing in this year’s event included Ballard County, Henderson County North, Hopkinsville, Lone Oak, Murray, Paducah and Reidland middle schools in Kentucky and Massac County Junior High School in Illinois.
From left, EM Portsmouth/Paducah Project Office Program Analyst Robert “Buz” Smith; Heath Middle School Team #1 Team members Janus Cheung, coach Brandy Roberts, Max Steger, Drew Byrne, McCoy Mitchell, Finn Boyd; and EM Paducah Site Lead April Ladd, back row, pose for a photo with the runner-up trophy at the DOE West Kentucky Regional Science Bowl.
A quick-recall, fast-paced, question-and-answer contest, the tournament is designed to quiz students on their knowledge of biology, chemistry, Earth and space, energy, mathematics and physics.
“The amount of time the students, coaches and volunteers put into preparing for this event is always amazing,” EM Paducah Site Lead April Ladd said. “The knowledge displayed by students on all the teams continues to impress.”
EM Portsmouth/Paducah Project Office Program Analyst Robert “Buz” Smith, far left, and EM Paducah Site Lead April Ladd, far right, pose with DOE West Kentucky Regional Science Bowl second-runner-up, North Marshall Middle School Team. Pictured are, back row, from left, Quintin Milo, John “JD” Wyatt, Edie Jones, coach Megan Rickard, coach Aaron Smith, and front row, from left front, Elizabeth Munson and Nathan Downs.
The first place team in the regional tournament will receive $1,200 for its school. Each year, about 10,000 students from across the country compete in the national competition. More than 344,000 students have competed since the event began 33 years ago.
The event is 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. Click here for more information.
-Contributor: Dylan Nichols
To receive the latest news and updates about the Office of Environment Management, submit your e-mail address.