Students from five schools around the state put their ocean science skills to the test in the 16th regional Aloha Bowl, part of the 23rd annual National Ocean Sciences Bowl (NOSB). Held Feb. 15, the Aloha Bowl was organized by the University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant College Program.
Five high school students from Punahou School won the competition and will represent Hawaii in Gulfport, Mississippi, April 16–19.
Members of the winning team include Noah Chung, Jonah Johnson, Ethan Lau, Maya Mastick and Mattingly Morales.
“Punahou’s hard work showed throughout the competition where they demonstrated an impressive grasp of the various topics and impeccable teamwork,” said Sean Holland, an Aloha Bowl volunteer and a School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology student. “This is their second year in a row winning the Aloha Bowl.”
The quiz bowl style academic competition tests students’ knowledge of ocean-related topics, which include cross-disciplines of biology, chemistry, policy, physics and geology. Ocean science is not a course generally offered at the high school level. The competitions held across the U.S. allow high school students to gain exposure to ocean science and related careers.
“All the teams performed spectacularly, it’s always a joy to see how the competition continues to grow and drive students to new heights every year,” said Holland.
Nearly 30 volunteers from different schools, departments across UH Mānoa, and other local organizations made the event possible.
View photos from the 2020 Aloha Bowl on Flickr.
About NOSB
NOSB was developed to stimulate interest among high school students in the ocean sciences and demonstrate to the public the importance of the oceans. One of the program’s long-term goals is to foster the next generation of marine scientists, educators and policy makers for the ocean sciences. NOSB is a long-standing program providing high school students with high quality educational experiences and building a community of STEM trained, ocean literate and thoughtful future leaders in the nation’s workforce.