Demonstrating a strong grasp of advanced science, math and technology concepts as well as displaying quick reflexes and grace under pressure, North Hollywood High School Team A won the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) Science Bowl XXXI Regional Competition recently held in downtown Los Angeles.
Team members each received a $1,000 Hitachi Scholarship and an all-expense paid trip to Washington, DC from April 27 to May 1 to represent the City of Los Angeles at the US Department of Energy Office of Science (USDOE) National Science Bowl. The trip is funded by the USDOE Office of Science.
North Hollywood will be among 65 high school regional champions from 40 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. A total of eight teams from California will participate.
North Hollywood High School Team A was also awarded the first place Melinda Rho Memorial Trophy named in memory of the late volunteer. Melinda, who passed away in retirement during spring 2019, was involved in all aspects of the Science Bowl for more than 25 years. She served as the LADWP Manager of Regulatory Affairs in the Water Quality Division, ensuring the safety of the city’s water supply.
North Hollywood High School Team B placed second in the competition. Those team members were awarded a $700 Water and Power Community Credit Union scholarship. Harvard Westlake High School finished third, while the Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies was fourth.
This years’ teams were tasked with constructing an operable mechanical claw out of everyday household items such as paper towel tubes, spoons, electrical tape and clothes pins. The teams then received points for moving the items to one of two buckets, one farther away than the other. The items that moved farther away received more points.
In the hands-on competition, Chaminade High School Team A was the recipient of the first place Franklin Lu Hands-On Trophy. Chaminade Team members received a $500 scholarship.