Striving for a National Academic Title — LADWP Science Bowl XV Scrimmage: High School Scholars Prepare for Regional and National Competitions

Business Wire, Jan 10, 2007

Local Teams Have Won Four National Titles and Placed in Finals Nine Times; LADWP Science Bowl - Among Nation's Most Successful Regional Competitions

LOS ANGELES -- More than 200 of the city's best and brightest academic students from 28 high schools and 42 teams will participate in a scrimmage (practice session) in the LADWP Science Bowl program, Saturday, Jan. 20 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Department of Water and Power headquarters, 111 N. Hope Street, downtown.

North Hollywood High School will begin formal preparation working to best its second place finish last year at the National Science Bowl.

Patterned after the old GE College Bowl television series, students in teams of five, which include an alternate, will answer complex college-level math, science and technology questions from moderators in preparation for the 15thAnnual LADWP Science Bowl regional competition to be held Feb. 24.

The winning five-member team from the February event will represent the City of Los Angeles at the prestigious U.S. Department of Energy National Science Bowl in Washington, D.C., April 26 to 30.

The LADWP Science Bowl regional winning teams have had tremendous success at the national competition compared to other areas in the nation. Local teams have won four national titles and placed among the top five schools nationally nine times since 1995. The national titles were won by Van Nuys High School in 1995, Venice High School in 1996 and 1997 and North Hollywood High School in 2001.

"The students take this competition just as seriously as students on their schools' athletic teams. They are among the best scholars in the City with many subsequently attending some of the top universities and colleges in the nation," said George Rofail, chair of the LADWP science bowl volunteer steering committee. Rofail is also a manager of market information for the LADWP.

Public schools from throughout the Los Angeles Unified School District, (LAUSD), charter schools and private/parochial schools in the city participate in the LADWP Science Bowl program.

The purpose of the program is to encourage students of all backgrounds to pursue studies and careers in math, science and technology fields. Science Bowl also seeks to showcase the talents of local high school scholars and to enhance student achievement by providing motivation and incentives for success.

The LADWP Science Bowl is an official, regional qualifying tournament of the U.S. Department of Energy National Science Bowl. This year local tournaments will be held in 67 regions located in some 40 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Annually, more than 12,000 students from 1800 high school participate in the program nationally.

Each year, about 100 volunteers, mainly LADWP employees and their families, serve as moderators, timekeepers, and scorekeepers at the regional competition.

In addition to LADWP, other sponsors for this year's regional competition include CityView Channel 35, the Hitachi Southern California Regional Community Action Committee, the Hitachi Foundation, AT&T, Gelson's Markets, City National Bank, the Water and Power Community Credit Union, Engineers' Council, IEEE, the Los Angeles Unified School District and the U.S. Department of Energy.

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, the nation's largest municipally owned utility, has provided water and energy services to the residents and businesses in the city for more than a century.

Additional information about the LADWP education programs and the Science Bowl can be received by logging on to www.ladwp.com, clicking on to the Community and Safety Section and then Educational Services.

(NOTE TO MEDIA: Media is invited to cover. Parking for event is in Customer Lot near Temple St. or on street. Entrance to the building through Customer Lot.)