FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 16, 2000

CONTACT: Melissa Chiechi

602-352-2521, chiechi@wapa.gov

High School Science Stars to Compete In Science Bowl Saturday

Phoenix, Ariz.-

In deuterostomes, the mesoderm is produced from pouches of:

(W) Ectoderm (X) Endoderm

(Y) Body Cavity (Z) Coelom

On Feb. 19, local high school students will tackle tough questions like this one with hopes of winning a spot at the U.S. Department of Energy's National Science® Bowl in May. The Arizona regional competition will host 24 teams composed of five students each.

The National Science Bowl is an academic competition among teams of high school students. Since the program began in 1991, it has brought together more than 60,000 high school mathematics and science students-as well as their teachers-from across the country. The program is designed to encourage students and their teachers to achieve educational excellence in the sciences. Competing teams are quizzed on scientific topics in biology, chemistry, physics, astronomy, earth science, computer science, and mathematics.

The first place winner of Saturday's tournament will join 52 other high school teams from across the country competing for the title of 2000 U.S. Department of Energy National Science Bowl Champions in Washington, D.C., May 5-8.

Last year, Mountain View High School from Mesa went on to the national competition after winning the Arizona regional.

"A new millenium is approaching, and with it, new challenges that will require a new generation of scientists, engineers, and mathematicians. Students participating in the Department of Energy's National Science Bowl represent that new generation. I

want to salute these students, as well as their parents and teachers for their dedication and commitment to preparing our nation for the challenges of the 21st century. The scientific excellence exemplified by the participants in the National Science Bowl is the key to our nation's future," said U.S. Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson.

Sponsors include:

U.S. Department of Energy

Western Area Power Administration

Southwest Gas

Irrigation and Electrical Districts of AZ

K.R. Saline and Associates

Curtis and Martinez Insight

Arizona Electric Power Cooperative

Southwest Airlines

Glendale Community College

AZ Strut (Students Recycling Used Technology)

Café Valley

Valley Business Printing

Arizona Public Service

Coca-Cola

A-Action Day Brite

Arizona Alliance for Math, Science, and Technology Education

WHO: 24 teams - 120 high school students

WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 19.

WHERE: Glendale Community College

ANSWER: (X) ENDODERM

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 central and western states.

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Serving the West with Federal Hydropower