Winning Team to Represent Los Angeles Region in National Science Bowl Competition in Washington, D.C. Next Month
LOS ANGELES (March 10, 2025)— Demonstrating a remarkable understanding of advanced science, math and technology concepts, North Hollywood High School Team A won the 33rd Annual Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) Regional Science Bowl Competition on Saturday, March 8.
The team moves on to represent the Los Angeles region at the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Science Bowl in Washington, D.C. in April where they will compete with approximately 67 high school regional champions from across the country. A total of eight teams from California will participate. Since the launch of Science Bowl in Los Angeles in 1993, LADWP regional championship teams have won national titles and have a record of placing among the top teams.
Both North Hollywood High School and Venice High School have each won national championships.
North Hollywood High School Team A members will each receive a $1,250 Hitachi Scholarship. Additionally, as a team they will receive $3,000 to bring back to their school’s Science Department and the Melinda Rho Memorial Trophy named in memory of the late LADWP employee and Science Bowl volunteer. For over 25 years, Melinda Rho played a pivotal role in every aspect of the Science Bowl.
Harvard – Westlake High School Team A placed second in the competition and each team member was awarded a $1,000 scholarship from the Water and Power Community Credit Union, with the school receiving $2,500. North Hollywood High School Team B came in third place and The Science Academy STEM Magnet Team A placed fourth.
Teams demonstrated problem-solving and time management skills during the Hands-On Competition, which offers a different challenge for teams to tackle each year. This year, teams built a projectile launch, with the winning team’s device reaching the greatest distance and demonstrating the most accuracy.
In the hands-on competition, Abraham Lincoln Senior High School Team B was the recipient of the first place Franklin Lu Hands-On Trophy, named in memory of the late LADWP engineer and Science Bowl volunteer. Each team member was also awarded a $750 scholarship. The second-place award was presented to Francisco Bravo Medical Magnet High School Team B, with third and fourth place awarded to El Camino Real Charter High School Team B and Granada Hills Charter High School Team B, respectively.
Along with LADWP and the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science, Science Bowl was also sponsored by Hitachi Southern California Regional Community Action Committee, 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 100 volunteers, mainly LADWP employees, their families and past Science Bowl participants.
Each year, LADWP Science Bowl tests the region’s sharpest students on their teamwork skills and science knowledge in a fun atmosphere using a game show format answering questions and timed responses. 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 325,000 students have participated in the program.
LADWP, the nation’s largest municipal water and power utility, is one of a few utilities in the nation that serves as a coordinating Regional Science Bowl sponsor and host. Learn more about LADWP education programs at ladwp.com/education.
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