WAYZATA, Minn. — Students from Wayzata High School won a huge national competition this week with high stakes: the opportunity to study in the field they love.
Science.
Only two high school teams were left in the National Science Bowl competition: Wayzata and Dulles from Texas. The championship rounds were Monday at 8 a.m. (CT), followed by an awards ceremony.
The National Science Bowl is held in Washington, D.C.
Because they both made it so far, the two final teams will both be participating in an all-expense-paid science trips to Alaska.
The National Science Bowl is a "nationwide academic competition that tests students' knowledge in all areas of science and mathematics."
Teams face-off in a fast-paced question-and-answer format, being tested on a range of science disciplines including biology, chemistry, Earth science, physics, energy and math.
Wayzata's team will be taking detailed trips to the Copper River Delta, the Chugach National Forest, the Sheridan River, the Prince William Sound, Orca Inlet, Childs Glacier and the Alaska Wildlife Center.
They will be learning about glaciology, marine and avian biology, geology and plate tectonics - a science enthusiast's dream.
The second-place team will also explore with Copper River and Childs Glacier, and will also be heading to the Heney Ridge Trail and the Million Dollar Bridge.
The top 16 teams from the competition received $1,000 for their schools' science departments.
This is not the first team from Minnesota to compete in the National Science Bowl.
In 2014, a team from Eden Prairie's Central Middle School secured a spot in the middle-school division of the national finals.
In 2017, students from Edina High School competed in the prestigious event.
And last year, a team from Minnetonka Middle School West and a team from Wayzata High School took their turns in Washington, D.C.
Good luck to the students from Wayzata High School who will be competing this year!