April 30, 2007
Poudre High School's Science Bowl team went undefeated throughout the competition today to take 1st place in the National Science Bowl in Washington, DC! The PHS team defeated the defending champs from State College Area High School, State College, PA, for top national honors. PHS is the first Colorado team to ever win this national award! Following its dramatic win, the PHS team was taken by limousine to be honored at the White House.
The PHS team has been in Washington, DC, since April 26, winning its way undefeated into the 16 team double elimination round on Sunday, April 29. PHS competed this morning in Round 8 of the elimination round, placing it as one of the top two teams in the nation.
Team members Patrick Chaffey, Sam Elder, Winston Gao, Sam Sun, and Logan Wright, coached by Jack Lundt, earned the right to compete in the National Science Bowl by winning the state Science Bowl competition in February. All expenses for the national competition are paid for by the U.S. Department of Energy, the national sponsor.
Winning team members and sponsors receive an all-expense paid two-week trip to Australia; the second-place team receives an 8-day trip to France.
Nationally, 1,800 teams competed in regional Science Bowl competitions, with 64 teams earning the right to compete in the national competition.
The man on the far left is Dr. Raymond Orbach, Under Secretary for Science at DOE
and the woman on the far right is Mrs. Diane Bodman, wife of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Secretary.
President George W. Bush meets with the winners of the DOE's National Science Bowl, in the Oval Office. White House photo by Eric Draper
See photos from May 4, 2007 assembly honoring the Science Bowl Champions with Governor Bill Ritter
Link to 9news Morning Show Clip
Link to the U.S. Department of Energy National Science Bowl Press Room
Link to the article in the Fort Collins Coloradoan
Link to "Rock-Star" Coloradoan article
Link to "Ritter Cheers Science Bowl Winners "Coloradoan article
Link to Jack Lundt Coloradoan article
Read the letter from the U.S. Secretary of Energy, Samuel W. Bodman to the PHS Community