MEDIA RELEASEFor Immediate Release
February 2024

Contact: Bethany Smith804-684-7735 <bsmith@vims.edu>

26th Annual Regional Ocean Sciences Bowl Attracts
Competing High School Science Students from Across Virginia
On Friday, February 9th and Saturday, February 10th, top science students from 15 Virginia high schools faced off
virtually for the 26th Annual Blue Crab Bowl. The Blue Crab Bowl is the Virginia regional competition of theNational Ocean Science Bowl (NOSB©). Fifteen teams came from schools across of the Commonwealth, fromManassas and Charlottesville to Hampton Roads and the Eastern Shore. The 80 students spent the two days inheated competition focused on the marine sciences.
The challenging 2-day event included both round-robin and finals contests. Tense final rounds resolved 1st –4th place winners. First Place was captured by Broadwater Academy in Exmore. In Second Place wasGrafton High School from Yorktown. Third Place honors were earned by the combined team fromCatholic High School and Isle of Wight Academy from Virginia Beach and Isle of Wight. Fourth Placehonors went to Catholic High School, from Virginia Beach.
The Blue Crab Bowl is a cooperative effort between Old Dominion University’s Department of Ocean andEarth Sciences and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, William and Mary. Over eighty volunteers,including science faculty, undergraduate and graduate students, and staff from both institutions, theNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other organizations, donated many hours of theirtime to ensure the success of this exciting event. Virginia’s Blue Crab Bowl was among the inaugural
NOSB competitions in 1998. Designed to inspire and challenge high school students, NOSB contests likethe Blue Crab Bowl test the competitors’ knowledge of the marine sciences, covering the breadth ofoceanography and maritime disciplines. To date, in its 26-year history, the Blue Crab Bowl has involved
over 2,000 of the Commonwealth’s brightest science students from over 60 public and private schools
across Virginia.
Using questions designed by marine scientists and educators, the contest tested students’ knowledge ofoceanography, geology, biology, maritime history and policy. Guided by their teacher coaches, students
broadened their awareness and understanding of the oceans as they prepared for the competition. TheBowl provides a forum for students who excel in math and science to receive regional and nationalrecognition for their diligence and talent.

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Blue Crab Bowl 2024 Winners

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Competing 2024 teams included:
Albemarle High School, Charlottesville
Broadwater Academy, Exmore
Catholic High School, Virginia BeachChesapeake Bay Governor’s School, Bowling Green Campus, Bowling Green
Chesapeake Bay Governor’s School, Glenns Campus, Glenns
Chesapeake Bay Governor’s School, Warsaw Campus, Warsaw
Churchland High School, Portsmouth
Grafton High School, Yorktown
Governor’s School for Science & Technology, Hampton
Isle of Wight Academy, Isle of Wight
Liberty High School, Bealeton
Norfolk Collegiate School, Norfolk
Seton School, Manassas
Tidewater Academy, Wakefield
Warwick High School, Newport NewsAt the end of the 2nd day of competition, all teams were recognized during the Awards Ceremony wherewelcoming and congratulatory remarks were given by Dr. Rodger Harvey, Interim Chair – Old Dominion
University Department of Ocean & Earth Sciences, and Dr. David Rudders, Associate Director, Marine Advisory
Program – Virginia Institute of Marine Science. Awards – including custom-made “crab bowl” trophies andmugs, designed by Amy Lee of Amy Lee Pottery in Norfolk were presented to the top four teams. All students
received prizes and coaches received science teaching resources and memberships in the Mid-Atlantic Marine
Education Association.
Through over 20 regional competitions across the nation, NOSB provides an educational forum intended to:
generate student interest in the ocean sciences; improve awareness of our oceans, coasts and Great Lakes; andcreate an “ocean literate” society that can meet the ocean challenges of the future. For information on theNational Ocean Science Bowl and other competitions around the country, visit www.nosb.org/.
The Blue Crab Bowl wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of national, regional and local sponsors.
In 2024, we are grateful to regional and local sponsors including: Old Dominion University’s Dept. of Ocean andEarth Sciences; the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS); VIMS Marine Advisory Program; Virginia Sea
Grant; Amy Lee Pottery; Mid-Atlantic Marine Education Association; and Splendid Sands.com. For a list of theConsortium for Ocean Leadership’s national sponsors, visit the NOSB website at www.nosb.org/.
For additional information, please contact regional coordinator Bethany Smith at VIMS via email
bsmith@vims.edu or phone 804-684-7735. Information about Blue Crab Bowl is also available atwww.vims.edu/bcb and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Blue-Crab-Bowl382574499609/?ref=ts.

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