NARRAGANSETT, R.I. — February 12, 2002 — For the fourth year in a row, students from Cranston High School West will represent southern New England in the National Ocean Sciences Bowl following a grueling day of competition against students from throughout Rhode Island and Connecticut.
Another team of Cranston West students came in second place at Saturday’s regional event at the URI Bay Campus, marking the second consecutive year that the school took the top two places. Tolland High School placed third and North Kingstown High School placed fourth.
Organized by the URI Office of Marine Programs in cooperation with Mystic Aquarium, sixteen teams from fourteen high schools faced round-robin matches and double-elimination rounds that included rapid-fire questioning about the chemistry, geology, physics, biology, history and economics of the marine environment.
The winning team – Nicole Stockley, Tracy Rappoport, Greg Shumchenia, Patrick McMillen, and Laura Barlow – will compete in Providence on April 28-29 against regional winners from around the country. The second place Cranston West team members are Sean McCormick, Robert Deluca, Melania Recine, Tanios Bouramia and Jessica McElroy. The teams were coached by Steven Krous and Jillian Marrocco. Each member of the top two teams will receive a $1,000 scholarship, a tour of the Naval Underwater Warfare Center in Newport, a trip aboard the URI research vessel Cap’n Bert, and a sail on the Continental Sloop Providence.
“Cranston West has become a regional powerhouse in this competition, and we wish them well in the nationals this year,” said Gail Scowcroft, associate director of marine programs at URI’s Graduate School of Oceanography. “It is very exciting that the national competition will be held in Providence this year. It will be an opportunity for top students from around the country to see the state and for local students and their families to attend.”
The National Ocean Sciences Bowl was founded in 1998 by the Consortium for Oceanographic Research and Education and patterned after the National Science Bowl. It is designed to stimulate interest among high school students in the ocean sciences and to demonstrate the importance of the oceans in daily life. The event provides a forum for students who excel in math and science to receive national recognition for their diligence and talent.
Other Rhode Island schools competing were Cranston High School East, Narragansett High School, West Warwick High School, Portsmouth High School and two teams from Woonsocket High School. Also competing from Connecticut were teams from Plainville High School, Marianapolis High School, Waterford High School, Miss Porter’s School, New Milford High School and Southington High School.
For Information: Todd McLeish 401-874-7892