CONTACT: Nancy Mitchell, 602-352-2521, mitchell@wapa.gov

FORT COLLINS, Colo.--It's that time of year when students all over the country dedicate their minds to science. Colorado State University is the site for the Department of Energy's Rocky Mountain Regional Science Bowl competition on Saturday, Feb. 3. High school students vie annually in regional contests for a chance to compete in the National Science Bowl tournament held each May in Washington, D.C.

The 12 high schools participating in the competition in Ft. Collins are: Boulder and Fairview High Schools, Boulder, Colo.; Ft. Collins, Poudre and Rocky Mountain High Schools, Ft. Collins, Colo.; Fruita High School, Fruita, Colo.; Holyoke High School, Holyoke, Colo.; Loveland and Mountain View High Schools, Loveland, Colo.; Montrose High School, Montrose, Colo.; Rangely High School, Rangely, Colo.; Woodlin High School, Woodrow, Colo.; and Cheyenne East High School, Cheyenne, Wyo.

Funding and support of the regional event is provided by the Western Area Power Administration's Rocky Mountain Region, DOE Rocky Flats Field Office, the National Park Service in Ft. Collins, the Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service Offices in Fort Collins, Colo. and Laramie, Wyo. and the Ft. Collins Eye Opener Kiwanis Club. Personnel from these agencies have volunteered their time for the competition.

Last year winners from this regional Science Bowl along with six other regional winners from across Western's service territory competed in the national finals. "High school teachers can use this competition as a tool to encourage students to achieve educational excellence in the sciences," said Rocky Mountain regional event coordinator John Crowfoot.

Science Bowl topics include biology, chemistry, physics, astronomy, earth science, computer science and mathematics. Competition officials will present first-, second- and third-place winners with school trophies and individual team members with medallions and other prizes. Door prizes will be awarded to participants and volunteers throughout the day, and a Chinese buffet lunch will be served.

Western Area Power Administration annually markets and transmits more than 10,000 megawatts of power from hydroelectric powerplants owned and operated by the Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 15 central and western states.