COMMUNITY

Science students hope to have the Formula for a Win

Students are asked questions about science and need to respond quickly as two teams go head-to-head against each other in very fast-paced rounds

Pamela L. Bonner
Ruidoso News
  • Students prepare for the competition from the experience they receive in the classrooms

Students from Ruidoso High School will participate in the Science Bowl at Albuquerque Academy Feb. 9 beginning at 8 a.m., continuing throughout the day as teams advance closer to a win by process of elimination.

Middle schools and high schools from all over the state of New Mexico will attend this year. The more rounds a team wins, the further they move up in the competition anticipating a potential first place win.

The science department lab at Ruidoso High School allows students to participate in hands-on education. Students from the science department will be attending the 2019 Science Bowl.

The competition begins this month and has been a yearly event since 1991. Students are asked questions about science and need to respond quickly as two teams go head-to-head against each other in fast-paced rounds.

“It is a round-robin competition that begins in the morning. There is usually about four rounds, then based on each teams’ number of wins, which will determine whether or not you make it into the afternoon rounds, the team will continue to compete throughout the day,” said Deanna Oberheu.

Oberheu is a science teacher at Ruidoso High School .

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“I open it up to my students and they participate in the competition on a voluntary basis, for those that want to attend.”

The Science classes at RHS competed in this Science Bowl in the past years and are excited to return this year. Oberheu coached the students throughout the school year.

“We practice all the time, in class and during labs," Oberheu said.

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"Students prepare for the competition from the experience they receive in the classrooms, and we practice on the way up to the competition as well. Some of them just really get it, they are really good at it. We also go over the rules on the way up there."

Students that compete are enrolled in science, biology, and AP biology classes.

Two teams from RHS will attend this year, consisting of four students with one alternate. The teams have 10 members in total, which are divided into upper-level (seniors and juniors) and younger-level, (sophomores and freshman) students.

“I divide the two teams this way, so they can get the experience they need.”

The students are excited to be attending this year and are hopeful to return with either a first or second place that will give them the opportunity to attend and compete in the finals in Washington, D.C. in April.

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“If we win first or second place, we could be going to Nationals in Washington, D. C. We will probably have to hold many fund raisers to go, but it is something that we would definitely want to compete in,” she said.

Team members and science teacher Deanna Oberheu (center) that will be attending the 2019 Science Bowl in Albuquerque this weekend.
 *some of the team members were unavailable for photo

The students that will be attending this year are Amber Allen, Travis Annala, Carter Beatty, Dylynn Blount, Morgan Chase, Brooks Eggleston, Jennifer Friberg, Destiny Hodge, Blake Houldsworth and Duarte Mocho.

Oberheu will be attending along with the team. All of the students are enrolled in science or biology courses at RHS.

For more information about events, extracurricular activities, clubs and organizations at Ruidoso schools visit www.ruidososchools.org.