SPANISH FORT, Ala. — Spanish Fort Middle School students Eric Nuss, Matthew Inabinett, Kristen Smith and Cary Burdick recently competed in the 20th Annual National Science Bowl held April 29 – May 3 in Washington, D.C. 

The U.S. Department of Energy National Science Bowl is a nationwide academic competition that tests students’ knowledge in all areas of science including earth science, physical science, life science, math and general science. High school and middle school students are quizzed in a fast paced question-and-answer format similar to that of the TV game show “Jeopardy.” 

The team earned the privilege of representing Alabama after winning the regional competition held in March at the Alabama School of Math & Science. 

“This was just the second year that we have competed in the regional competition, so advancing to the national level was a great accomplishment”, said Coach Tim Daniels.

Team members and sponsors received an all-expenses paid, five-day trip to the national competition, which included 37 middle school teams from 25 states. The teams were housed at the National 4-H Conference Center and participated in many activities including a trip to the National Mall to visit monuments and tour museums, a tournament-style academic competition, and a solar car design competition and racing tournament. 

Daniels said, “Even though we didn’t make it into the double-elimination rounds of either tournament, our team was very competitive and the kids were great representatives of our school and state.” 

Burdick said, “Participating in the solar car competition was a great hands-on experience that taught us teamwork, some basic engineering principles, and the importance of planning and persistence.”

The event culminated at the National Building Museum with the double-elimination tournament finals followed by a catered luncheon for all of the middle school teams and 68 high school teams. The middle school finals were attended by United States Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, who served as the scientific judge and First Lady Michelle Obama, who read bonus questions to the participants. The middle school national champion was Albuquerque Academy (N.M.) and the high school winner was the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics from Durham. 

“It was impressive and inspiring to see what the other competitors knew about science,” said Smith. 

“Competing against some of America’s best and brightest young math and science minds was an eye-opening experience. We have a lot to learn and improve upon before we return to the national competition,” said Nuss. 

The team hopes to find a high school sponsor so that they can continue competing. 

Inabinett said, “We learned a lot about the strategies involved in competing against the best and we will be ready to rise to victory when we return.”