Bishop Sullivan wins Blue Crab Bowl for 8th-straight year
Top science students from Virginia compete in 18th annual regional ocean science bowl
Bishop Sullivan Catholic High School of Virginia Beach defended their title as winners of the annual Blue Crab Bowl for the eighth-straight year during the competition held at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science in early February.
The Blue Crab Bowl is the Virginia regional competition of the National Ocean Science Bowl (NOSB©), an annual academic contest to test knowledge of the oceans among high-school students. Bishop Sullivan will move on to represent Virginia at the National Ocean Science Bowl April 24-26 in Ocean Springs, Mississippi.
This year’s Blue Crab Bowl pitted 16 teams representing 9 Virginia high schools in a day of heated tournament competition focused on the marine sciences. Designed to test student’s understanding of oceanography, geology, biology, maritime history, and policy, the contest uses questions created by marine scientists and educators. Guided by their teacher coaches, the students prepare for the competition by broadening their awareness and understanding of the oceans.
After a challenging 46 matches, Bishop Sullivan Catholic High School’s Team A remained undefeated. Second place went to Chesapeake Bay Governor’s School-Glenns/Warsaw Team B. Seton School (Manassas) took third place and Broadwater Academy’s (Exmore) Team B placed fourth. The competitors consisted of nearly 80 students who came from across the Commonwealth—from Virginia Beach to Manassas, and from Exmore on the Eastern Shore to Warrenton in the west.
The Blue Crab Bowl is a cooperative effort between William & Mary’s Virginia Institute of Marine Science and Old Dominion University’s Department of Ocean, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences. More than 70 scientists—including faculty, staff, and graduate students from both institutions and researchers from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration—donated many hours of their time to ensure the success of the event.
At the end of the day, teams were recognized during the Awards Ceremony coordinated by Carol Hopper Brill, VIMS extension staff affiliated with Virginia Sea Grant, and Dr. Victoria Hill, ODU’s Coordinator for the Bowl. Prizes were presented by VIMS Associate Dean of Research and Advisory Services Mark Luckenbach and Dr. Roger Harvey, Chair of ODU’s Department of Ocean, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. The students were applauded for their accomplishments and encouraged to continue their studies in interdisciplinary marine sciences.
Competing 2015 teams included:
- Bishop Sullivan Catholic High School—Team A, Virginia Beach
- Bishop Sullivan Catholic High School—Team B, Virginia Beach
- Broadwater Academy—Team A, Exmore
- Broadwater Academy—Team B, Exmore
- Chesapeake Bay Governor’s School, Glenns & Warsaw Campus—Team A
- Chesapeake Bay Governor’s School, Glenns & Warsaw Campus—Team B
- Churchland High School, Portsmouth
- Fauquier High School—Team A, Warrenton
- Fauquier High School—Team B, Warrenton
- Isle of Wight Academy—Team A, Isle of Wight
- Isle of Wight Academy—Team B, Isle of Wight
- Patrick Henry High School, Ashland
- Seton School—Team A, Manassas
- Seton School—Team B, Manassas
A program of the Consortium for Ocean Leadership, NOSB seeks to interest students in ocean science as a college major and potential career. During 2015, an expected 2,000 students from more than 300 high schools from across the country will participate. The Blue Crab Bowl is one of 25 regional competitions.
The BCB is made possible by the generous support of national, regional, and local sponsors. The local sponsors are: VIMS, ODU’s Department of Ocean, Earth & Atmospheric Science; VIMS Marine Advisory Services Program; the Mid-Atlantic Marine Education Association and National Marine Educators Association; Comfort Suites-Airport, Newport News; and Pizza Hut, Gloucester Point. For a list of the national and regional sponsors, visit the NOSB website at www.nosb.org/.