After Daylong Competition, Hialeah-Miami Lakes H.S. Wins Regional Ocean Sciences Bowl and Advances

VIRGINIA KEY, Fla. — Nearly 100 students with a strong interest in marine science from high schools throughout eastern Florida competed in the regional National Ocean Sciences Bowl competition which took place in Miami on Saturday, February 7. Dubbed the ‘Manatee Bowl,’ the event featured teams of students representing the following schools: Bayside High School (Palm Bay); G. Holmes Braddock Senior H.S.and MAST Academy (Miami); Hialeah-Miami Lakes Senior H.S. (Hialeah); Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy (Melbourne); Marine & Oceanographic Academy (Fort Pierce); Miami Beach Senior High School (Miami Beach); Miami Palmetto Senior High School (Village of Pinecrest); Palm Bay High School (Melbourne); South Broward High School (Hollywood) and St. Lucie West Centennial High School (Port St. Lucie).

1st Place — Hialeah-Miami Lakes	2nd Place — South Broward
3rd Place — Mast Academy	Best Sporstmanship — South Broward

Students participated in a “Jeopardy-like” competition focused on principles of ocean science. Preliminary rounds were hosted at MAST Academy throughout the day, then students crossed the Rickenbacker Causeway to play the final round at the University of Miami’s (UM’s) Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science.  Teams from Hialeah-Miami Lakes Sr. High School and South Broward High School battled it out during several rounds of toss up and team questions.  In the end Hialeah-Miami Lakes high school students Kevin Montiel, Diana Leon, Barbara Rassi and Christian Vazquez emerged as the 2009 Manatee Bowl winners.   They were coached by science teacher Kirk Nieveen.

Dr. Otis Brown, dean of UM’s Rosenstiel School and Miami-Dade School Board Member Dr. Lawrence Feldman were on hand to present students with their awards. First place winners each received a waterproof/shockproof camera and will travel to Washington D.C. to compete against 24 other regional champions in the 12th Annual National Ocean Sciences Bowl (NOSB¨) April 25-27 at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History’s Ocean Hall. Second place winners South Broward High School (Team A) each got a year’s subscription to National Geographic magazine, and third place winner MAST Academy (Team A) won autographed copies of "Chasing Science at Sea" by Dr. Ellen Prager, chief scientist of NOAA’s Aquarius Reef Base and Rosenstiel School adjunct professor, who will be featured at Nationals. An additional award was given to South Broward High School (Team B) for sportsmanship. Each team member was provided with a year’s adoption from the ‘Save the Manatee Club’.

Since its inception more than a decade ago, the Florida Manatee Bowl has been co-hosted by Harbor Branch and the Rosenstiel School, with the event alternating annually between Fort Pierce and Miami.  Moderators and judges for the event are drawn from both institutions.

Thanks to the following local sponsors:  Florida SeaGrant College Program, Florida Marine Science Educators Association, International Game Fish Association, Save the Manatee Club, The Billfish Foundation, Officer Snook Water Pollution Program.   Additional thanks to the volunteers who helped make the event a success, including the faculty, staff and students of UM’s Rosenstiel School and FAU’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, scientists from NOAA’s Atlantic Oceanic and Meteorological Laboratory and National Marine Fisheries Service’s Southeast Fisheries Science Center, and MAST Academy marine biology students.

The National Ocean Sciences Bowl is a program of the Consortium for Ocean Leadership based in Washington, DC.  NOSB seeks to interest students in the ocean sciences as a college major and potential career. Through this educational forum, the NOSB strives to encourage and support the next generation of marine scientists, policy makers, teachers, explorers, researchers, technicians, environmental advocates and informed citizens. Approximately 2,000 students from over 300 high schools will participate in 2009.

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