For the fifth year in a row –St. Andrew’s Episcopal School has won the Pantex Regional Science Bowl. The team competed in 11 rounds of play and finished with an outstanding record of 10 – 1. The championship round was against Sam Houston’s Red Team and St. Andrew’s finished strong with an 80 – 32 win.

This year, St. Andrew’s entered two teams in the competition --Red and Blue -- and both did well. In the end, it was the Blue Team comprised of Emily Bivins, Thomas Britt, Nikit Desai, J.T. Hassell (captain) and Rahel Tekeste that took home the trophy and the check. As the winning team, these students will represent this region in the National Middle School Science Bowl held in Washington, D.C., April 29 -May 4, 2010. They also earned $1,000 for the School’s science program.

“This year’s winning team excelled in performing as a team.” said coach and middle school science teacher, Sara Burkhard. “They answered their questions collectively, utilizing the expertise of several team members to find the right answers”. The team prepared by practicing once a week before school and through individual study. Students also honed their skills by reading a broad array of scientific texts about everything from earth science to anatomy. Team member Nikit Desai also had the benefit of older brother Niral randomly asking him science related questions at the breakfast table or throughout the day. Niral was a member of the 2008 St. Andrew’s team that won the National Fuel Cell Car Competition and placed third in the overall National Science Bowl.

St. Andrew’s Red Team came in with an impressive 8th place finish and included Joshua Beggs, Ben Juba, Victoria Miles, Tate Smith, Victoria Waters, and Claudia Wrampelmeier.

Thirty-three teams from 16 middle and junior high schools competed in this year’s Pantex Science bowl, an increase from last years twenty-three teams from 12 area middle and junior high schools. The Science Bowl is operated much like the popular television game show “Jeopardy,” with the exception that students play on teams of four instead of individually. Round-robin games are held in the morning with division winners advancing to the double-elimination final rounds after lunch. Students’ science and math knowledge is challenged as they try to beat their opponents to the buzzer to answer questions on earth science, physical science, life science, general science and math.