NEWS FROM WESTERN AREA POWER ADMINISTRATION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Feb. 6, 2006
CONTACT: Dirk Shulund; (406) 247-7402; Shulund@wapa.gov
FERGUS TEAM WINS 2005 BIG SKY REGIONAL SCIENCE BOWL
BILLINGS, Mont.— Fergus High School of Lewistown, Mont. took top honors in the 2006 Big Sky Regional Science Bowl held in Billings, Feb. 4. The final round of competition was between Fergus High School and Billings Skyview High School. Helena High School fielded the third-place team.
The first-place team from Fergus High School in Lewistown included juniors Karrie Bostrom, David Chen, Ryan Foy and Ryan Kepler, and senior Kelley Thornsberry. They are coached by Frank Hallett, a science teacher for the past 18 years. By winning the 14 th Annual Big Sky Science Bowl, Fergus earned an all-expenses-paid trip to compete in the National Science Bowl this spring in Washington , D.C.
The national competition will be held April 27 to May 1, and is sponsored by the Department of Energy and its partners. Details on the National Science Bowl can be found online at http://www.scied.scrience.doe.gov/nsb/default.htm.
Teams from 17 Montana schools competed in the regional science bowl, and some schools brought more than one team. The students are among the 12,000 participants from 1,800 schools across the country that are competing in the regional science bowls this spring.
Locally, the contest is organized by the Western Area Power Administration, with help from 80 area volunteers and sponsorships from a number of area companies. “Work on the science bowl begins in September”, said Cheryl Jones, one of the event coordinators from Western. “The science bowl is a big undertaking for us every year, and it would not be possible without many people stepping up and volunteering to help in so many different ways.”
The trip to Washington will provide the Fergus team with an educational experience that will continue to enrich their education and expand their knowledge. In addition to the high level of competition, the Fergus team will experience the museums and monuments, and also have the opportunity to participate in science activities with experts in a variety of fields of study.
Western Area Power Administration annually markets and transmits more than 10,000 megawatts of power from hydroelectric powerplants owned and operated by the Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 15 western and central states. It is part of the Department of Energy.
Serving the West with Federal hydropower
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