A team of students from Ft. Pierce Westwood’s Marine Oceanographic Academy (MOA) placed second in the 15th annual Manatee Bowl, an annual, regional ocean science competition. A team from St. Lucie West Centennial High School joined in the competition against 20 teams from 14 schools from the east coast of Florida. The teams are tested through quick Jeopardy-style questions and thought-provoking team challenge questions. Questions are drawn from the scientific and technical disciplines used in studying the oceans — physics, chemistry, geology, atmospheric science, biology, national and international economics, history and culture. The regional competition alternates annually between the University of Miami (UM) Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science and Florida Atlantic University’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute in Fort Pierce. The MOA team was undefeated entering the final round, thus securing one of the two top spots, but two losses to Archimedean Upper Conservatory School in the championship round ended MOA’s two-year reign as champion. The winning team from the regional competition is eligible to compete in the national competition, which this year is set in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Pictured in the navy team tee shirts, from left, are team coach Scott McMillen, Ludwin Vielman, Jeremy Johnson, Rhyan Grant, Graham Oreo,and Roxy Vega, flanked by two members of the UM staff.
Westwood High MOA team placed second in annual Ocean Bowl
