Virginia Key, Fla. – February 7, 2011 – More than 100 high school students with a strong interest in marine science and their teachers representing the east coast of Florida converged on Virginia Key this weekend for the 14th Annual Manatee Bowl. Early rounds of competition took place at Miami Dade Public Schools’s MAST Academy, and final rounds were played on the campus of the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science. After 10 rounds of competition, the Marine and Oceanographic Academy (MOA) took first place, following a hard-fought battle with contestants from MAST Academy. Two separate teams coached by Mark Tolhulka from MAST Academy took second and third place.
This year marked the entry of four new schools into the competition, Archimedean Upper Conservatory, Immaculata-La Salle High School and Gulliver Schools from Miami, and Viera High School from Viera, Fla. Additional teams competing in the Manatee Bowl included: Miami Beach Senior High, Palmetto Senior High School, South Broward High School and St. Lucie West Centennial High School.
Kendall’s Archimedean Upper Conservatory walked away with the award for sportsmanship for their enthusiasm and tenacity.
Local sponsors for the event were: Florida Sea Grant College Program, Florida Marine Science Educators Association, National Marine Educators Association, Museum of Discovery and Science (Fort Lauderdale), International Game Fish Association and Hall of Fame, Miami Seaquarium, New World Publications and the National Geographic Society.
The team from MOA will now compete against 24 other regional champions in the 14th Annual National Ocean Sciences Bowl (NOSB®) April 29 – May 1 at Texas A&M University in Galveston, Texas. For more information, visit www.nosb.org.
The National Ocean Sciences Bowl is a program of the Consortium for Ocean Leadership based in Washington, DC. NOSB seeks to interest students in pursuing a college degree and future career in the ocean sciences. 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, to consider and appreciate the ocean. Approximately 2,000 students from over 300 high schools will participate in 2011.
