Lone Oak High School is the U.S. Department of Energy’s Regional High School Science Bowl winner and will compete in the National Science Bowl April 26-30 in Washington, D.C.

The five-student Lone Oak team won the Feb. 10 regional competition in Crounse Hall on the University of Kentucky Extension Campus at West Kentucky Community & Technical College. Two teams from Gatton Academy of Bowling Green finished second and third. Gatton won the contest last year.

Two of the winning Lone Oak High School team members were on the squad two years ago when Lone Oak won the Regional High School Science Bowl. The repeat victory bolsters Lone Oak’s standing as one of the leading academic teams in the region, Coach Charles Fountain said.

“There are some very tough competitors in this part of Kentucky,” he said.

A fast-paced, question-and-answer format similar to the Jeopardy TV game show tests teams of students in all areas of science and mathematics. Lone Oak team members cover much of the subject matter in the classroom but cram for the competition with practice questions, said Nikolas Anderson, squad captain.

“Energy-related questions are the hardest because there is no textbook for them,” he said. 

Fifteen high school teams competed, with a few schools having two teams. Other competitors were Livingston Central, Fulton County, Calloway County, St. Mary, Paducah Tilghman, Hickman County, Hopkinsville, Mayfield, and Henderson County. 

Regional winners receive expense-paid trips to Washington for DOE’s National Science Bowl, America’s largest and most prestigious science competition for middle and high school students. It is the only educational event and academic competition that is sponsored by a federal agency.

Winning high school teams compete for science trips, and past winners have gone to France, England, Belize, and Alaska. 

The Department’s Regional Middle School Science Bowl will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Feb. 24 in Crounse Hall. Competition is open to the public. 

Paducah Middle School, last year’s winner, will defend its title against at 1east 12 schools. Paducah Middle advanced to national runner-up in the 2011 Hydrogen Fuel Cell Model car challenge. 

Middle school teams from North Oldham, Henderson, Benton, St. Mary, Calloway County, West Kentucky Home Schools United, Ballard County, Crittenden County, Graves County, Pace School, Reidland, and Heath are expected to compete in this year’s regionals.  

The regional competition is supported by the contributions of local businesses and individuals. The funds are utilized for trophies, T-shirts, and lunch for the participating students. Donations can be sent to The Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce, attention Stacy Thomas. 

The regional competition is sponsored by DOE, UK-Paducah Campus, WKCTC, and the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce’s Business Education Partnership. 

Contributing businesses: A&K Construction, Computer Services Inc., LATA Environmental Services of Kentucky, EHI Consultants, ISP Chemicals, Performance Results Corp., Radiation Physics Solutions, S&S Mechanical, U.S. Enrichment Corp., and White House Design.

Champion Lone Oak High School team:
Back row, from left – Garrett Garneau, Nikolas Anderson, Ricky Grewelle, Coach Charles Fountain
Front, from left, Parijat Sharma, Rana Edem