(EL PASO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT – April 22, 2024) — Students from Transmountain Early College High School (TMECHS) will compete against some of the best minds in the nation.
The Mavericks will be taking part in the two-day National Science Bowl on Sunday-Monday, April 28-29, in Washington, D.C.
The trivia style competition tests students in the fields of math, science and everything in between. TMECHS students said they have been studying for the tournament for weeks.
“We found some practice tests online, we got buzzers, and we practice after school to get our timing down,” said Galilea Gonzalez, a junior at TMECHS.
“We also get information from our teachers who shared their knowledge with us, and also the clubs we are in, like Academic Decathlon, helped to prepare us for this competition,” said David Flores, a sophomore at TMECHS.
The young group earned their spot in the national event by beating out tough competitors in the regional tournament earlier this year. The students were surprised and happy with that outcome.
“It’s our first year competing in this contest and there were schools who have been doing this for years, and some of the coaches are really experienced, too,” said Trager Simpson, a sophomore at TMECHS. “So, when we won at regionals in February, it was shocking for us, and now the win has motivated us to do great at the national competition.”
The team is led by their teacher and mentor Frankie Reyes. Like the students, this will be Reyes’ first time leading a team at the National Science Bowl.
“I try to support my students so that hopefully they’ll want to continue in math and science, but the idea is just for them to find their niche and support them in that,” Reyes said. “TMECHS really has prepared our students for this competition because the students here are already taking college-level courses, so now they get to apply what they’ve learned in the classroom at the national level.”
Overall, the students are just happy to represent El Paso in Washington, D.C. by doing what they love.
“I love chemistry because it’s a lot more math-based and it’s easier for me to understand all the equations and this group allows me express that passion I have for science and math,” said Noah Poole, a junior at TMECHS.