For immediate release

Contacts: 
Steve Karsjen, Public Affairs, (515) 294-5643, karsjen@ameslab.gov

CENTRAL ACADEMY WINS MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE BOWL

Marshalltown Miller wins Fuel-cell Car Challenge at Inaugural Event

AMES, Iowa – A team of middle school students from Des Moines’ Central Academy edged out Boone 96-64 Saturday April 24, to win the first-ever Ames Laboratory/Iowa State University Regional Middle School Science Bowl. Central Academy advances to the U.S Department of Energy’s National Middle School Science Bowl, to be held June 17-20 in Golden, Colorado.

The championship in the quiz-bowl style, double-elimination tournament between Central Academy and Boone was a rematch from the semifinals. Central Academy won the semi-final match 112-86. Boone then won its consolation match, 62-48 over Urbandale, to set up the rematch. Urbandale finished third and Solon was fourth.

Boone also took second-place in the Fuel-Cell Car Challenge on Friday, losing the title race to Miller Middle School of Marshalltown. With assistance from members of Team PrISUm, ISU’s Solar Car Project, the sixth-eighth graders assembled model hydrogen fuel-cell car kits, and then raced the hydrogen-powered cars on a 10-meter track set up in Forker gym on the ISU campus.

"We congratulate Central Academy and all of the teams who competed," said event coordinator Steve Karsjen. "This event is a wonderful learning opportunity and a chance for top academic students to compete against their peers and receive recognition.”

The two-day event drew 12 teams from across Iowa and Minnesota. Also competing were: Anthon-Oto-Maple Valley Middle School, Evans Middle School (Ottumwa), Mediapolis Middle School, New Hartford-Dike Junior High, Ordean Middle School (Duluth, MN), Valley Middle School (Apple Valley, MN), and West Branch Middle School.

Central Academy, coached by Susan Stroope, was comprised of David Zhang, James Miao, Emma Van Winkle, and Grant Nelson. Competing for Boone were Matt Hurley, Kyle Culp, Dan Baker and Sid Pitt under the direction of coach Sue Duffee. Miller Middle School was represented by Annie Hill, Courtney Watts, Katelyn Metzger, Michael Anderson, Trevor Huey, and coach Lacinda Gillen.

Ames Laboratory is operated for the Department of Energy by Iowa State University. The Lab conducts research into various areas of national concern, including energy resources, high-speed computer design, environmental cleanup and restoration, and the synthesis and study of new materials.

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Editors: Images of specific teams taken during the competition are available by contacting Kerry Gibson, Media Relations Coordinator, at kgibson@ameslab.gov or (515) 294-1405.

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