Vigo County students earned honors and cash awards for their schools in a national science fair competition hosted in Washington, D.C., last weekend.
Terre Haute South Vigo High School and Honey Creek Middle School were among the “Sweet 16” finalists that competed Sunday in the Department of Energy’s National Science Bowl, according to a news release issued by the DOE.
Although Mira Loma High School and Hopkins Junior High School, both of California, took top honors Monday in the 19th annual competition, Terre Haute South and Honey Creek won $1,000 and $500, respectively, for their science departments.
The local teams also received all-expenses-paid trips to the nation’s capital for the finals.
Mira Loma High School’s efforts earned its team an all-expenses-paid research trip to the International Science School at the University of Sydney, Australia.
The Vigo County students represented the only two Indiana schools to advance to the “Sweet 16” level of competition.
More than 20,000 students competed in this year’s National Science Bowl regionals. Only 500 students from 42 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands advanced to the finals.
The National Science Bowl is America’s largest academic competition of its kind and the only one sponsored by a federal agency, according to the release.
Established in 1991, the National Science Bowl is part of the DOE’s drive to encourage student excellence in mathematics and science, as well as careers in these fields.
