Minnesota Academy of Science • 970 Raymond Ave., Suite 103 • St. Paul, MN 55114 • (651) 917-3994 • mnmas.org •

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wayzata Central Middle School Wins 2020 Minnesota Science Bowl: Team Claims State Title for a Second Year

[February 8, 2020, St. Paul, MN]  Wayzata Central Middle School’s top Science Bowl team will be returning to Washington, DC to compete at the national level for a second year in a row. Wayzata Central’s Team 1 did not suffer a single loss as it competed against 18 other teams from 12 Minnesota middle schools at the University of St. Thomas during the Minnesota Academy of Science’s Regional High School Science Bowl for middle school students. 

Wayzata Central’s winning team - Ishaan Goyal, Peter Jaynes, Richard Lin, Rushil Murikinati, and Samantha Singh - will receive an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. to compete in the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Science Bowl (April 30 – May 4, 2020). The team is coached by Michelle Allen, coach, Polly Laugen, co-coach, and Wayzata High School state and national champions Aayush Gupta and Ben Weiner. 

Barton Open School of Minneapolis came in second place while Wayzata West Middle School took third place. See full competition results at mnmas.org.  

During Science Bowl, students compete head-to-head in five-person teams to solve technical problems and answer questions in all branches of science and math. The tournament runs in a fast-paced, Q&A format where students race to ring in with their answers first. Each team plays multiple games in a round robin tournament, competing to advance to a double-elimination championship. 

Science Bowl competitions offer students who excel in math and science a chance to go beyond classroom learning and strengthen their teamwork skills. "Science Bowl helps kids be inspired by science and become more interested in science," noted one Wayata West student. “Working with the kids for months to prepare, you see a change in them as they grow into being a cohesive team,” said coach Allen. “They develop their leadership qualities, communication skills, and teamwork. They grow in their interest in science and math which fuels their desire to learn more.”

Science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) competitions like Science Bowl also provide recognition and motivation to the next generation of STEM students, opening the door to STEM majors and careers. “It’s fun to see kids getting into science,” said volunteer Adarsh Kodandapani of Seagate Technology. 

Founded in 1873, the Minnesota Academy of Science is a statewide 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering interest in STEM by sponsoring STEM-education programs and events for students in elementary school through college. The Academy sponsors Science Bowl with the help of more than 70 volunteers from local companies such as Seagate Technology, Ecolab, and 3M and with generous support from Ecolab, Macalester College, General Mills, Hardenbergh Foundation, the Minnesota Department of Education, and the United States Department of Energy.

WHO: 95 students from 12 Minnesota middle schools: Barton Open School, Central Middle School, Field Elementary, Lake Middle School, Minnetonka West Middle, Parnassus Preparatory School-Logic, Plymouth Middle, Sandburg Middle School, Scott Highlands Middle, Wayzata Central Middle, Wayzata East Middle, Wayzata West Middle.

WHAT: Minnesota Regional Middle School Science Bowl

WHERE: University of St. Thomas, Brady Education Center, 2115 Summit Ave., St. Paul, MN  

WHEN: February 8, 2020 

For more information:

Lara Maupin, MAS Interim Executive Director, lmaupin@mnmas.org

Emily Shepard, MAS Communications Coordinator, emilyshepard@mnmas.org  

MN Academy of Science – mnmas.org

U.S. Dept. of Energy National Science Bowl – https://science.osti.gov/wdts/nsb/About