North Hollywood High School Winning Science Bowl, Sends Team to National Competition
LOS ANGELES (February 20, 2021)— Showcasing an outstanding grasp of advanced science, math and technology concepts, North Hollywood High School won the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) 29th Annual Science Bowl Regional Competition held today virtually.
Team members from North Hollywood High School will each receive the $1,000 Hitachi Scholarship. Their school will receive $3,000 for the Science Department from LADWP. The team will compete in a field of 63 high school regional champions from throughout the country including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico for a post at the virtual National Department of Energy Science Bowl. Preliminary Rounds will be held in April and the Elimination Championship Rounds of 32 teams to be held on May 22, 2021. A total of eight teams from California will participate.
North Hollywood High School was also awarded the first place Melinda Rho Memorial Trophy named after the late Science Bowl volunteer and former LADWP Manager of Regulatory Affairs in the Water Quality Division whose work contributed toward ensuring the safety of L.A.’s water supply. Rho, who passed away in 2019, was involved in all aspects of the Science Bowl for more than 25 years.
Francisco Bravo Medical Magnet High School placed second in the competition. The winner of the third place trophy was Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies while Harvard-Westlake Upper High School placed fourth.
Science Bowl is a proud LADWP tradition and an example of the Department’s commitment to the Los Angeles community. Each year, LADWP Science Bowl tests the region’s sharpest students for their teamwork skills and science-based knowledge in a fun atmosphere using a game show format that involves beating the clock to answer toss-up and bonus questions This year, teams participated individually and competed over Zoom in observance of COVID-19 safety protocols.
In addition to LADWP and the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science, sponsors of this year’s Science Bowl include the Hitachi and its Southern California Regional Community Action Committee, the Water and Power Community Credit Union, and the Los Angeles Unified School District.
The event was also made possible through the efforts of more than 70 volunteers, mainly LADWP employees, their families and past Science Bowl participants. The National Science Bowl is among the nation’s largest science-based academic competitions and the only one sponsored by a federal agency. Since its inception in 1991, more than 315,000 students have participated in the program.
In addition to Science Bowl, other LADWP-sponsored education programs include the Los Angeles Times in Education Program, Adopt-A-School Program, and electric safety lessons and Website for elementary schools. Also live theater virtual presentations for schools on water resources and conservation and live virtual water conservation and energy efficiency programs are conducted on behalf of LADWP under sponsorships of two non-profit organizations.
LADWP is also involved in an alliance with other utilities to enhance the pathway of students from school to careers. In addition, LADWP sponsors career awareness events with local nonprofit organizations, programs and schools. In partnership with the Los Angeles Unified School District, it is expanding its Adopt-A-School Program to include Career and Technical Education efforts at local high schools. In addition, it is providing a series of virtual career chats, locally and throughout California, with members of its staff in a variety of disciplines such as engineering, the sciences and in skilled craft trade occupations. Further information on LADWP education programs can be received by going to www.ladwp.com/education.
LADWP is one of only a few utilities in the nation that serves as a coordinating regional Science Bowl sponsor and host. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) is the nation’s largest municipal utility, with a 7,880 megawatt (MW) electric capacity and serving an average of 438 million gallons of water per day to the 4 million residents of the City of Los Angeles, its businesses and visitors.
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Contact:
Walter Zeisl
LADWP Manager of Education Outreach
Cell: 213-923-6468
Dawn Cotterell
Community Affairs
Cell: 213-841-8269
