West Salem, McKay Students to Participate in Annual Salmon Bowl Competition

At stake for the 80 competing teens is a trip for the winning team to the national competition in Monterey, Calif., in May.

Last year's winners from Neah-Kah-Nie High School, the team that beat West Salem in '05

(Corvallis) - Sixteen Oregon high school teams will test their knowledge of marine sciences on Saturday, March 4th, during the annual Salmon Bowl competition at OSU. For the dozens of volunteers - faculty, staff and students - in the OSU College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences that hosts the event is a chance to help boost science literacy and interest in the world's oceans. The public is invited to watch the event, held on the OSU campus from 9 AM to 4:30 PM in Burt Hall, Wilkinson Hall, and the College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences administrative building. All three facilities are located at 26th Street and Monroe in Corvallis. Admission is free. This statewide competition is part of the National Ocean Sciences Bowl, which aims to develop the next generation of marine scientists, policy makers, educators, explorers, researchers and advocates. Last year's winning team, Neah-Kah-Nie High School's "A" Team, returns to defend its title. Competing teams will tackle questions about tsunamis, undersea earthquakes, offshore currents, fisheries, animal behavior and plate tectonics - to name just a few. Competing Salem Salmon Bowl individuals and coaches are: McKay High School: Katrina Beringer, Colin Jabin, Justin Neill, Westley Dang, Yoon Fow Saeteurn, Coach Teresa Mills. West Salem High School: Nicole James, Byron Harmon, Alex Kreitzberg, Melanie Altaras, Coach Michael Lampert. For more information on OSU's College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences, visit the college Web site at: www.coas.oregonstate.edu/