N. Hollywood High 2nd in Science Bowl

In another strong academic performance by a Los Angeles public high school, North Hollywood High took second place in the National Science Bowl, a math and science contest sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy.

“It’s still sinking in,” said Paul Lakin, a 17-year-old North Hollywood High senior. “It’s amazing. I’m really happy about how well we did.”

The five participants from North Hollywood’s magnet program for highly gifted students competed against 53 teams from 38 states.

In the national competition in Washington, D.C., a team from Silver Springs, Md., placed first. A Monroeville, Pa., team was third.

North Hollywood, which also finished second last year, won an expense-paid, one-week trip to a Department of Energy national laboratory in June. A spokesman for the contest said North Hollywood students will study waste management and wetland ecosystems, among other topics, along the South Carolina coast.

The Los Angeles Unified School District students were up against some of the nation’s brightest science students.

“We got to see how much we really know,” said Vinly Eng, 16, a senior. “It’s great that we did so well. . . . The other students were really smart.”

They spent hundreds of hours studying biology, chemistry, physics, calculus, astronomy, trigonometry, Earth and physical sciences, computer programming and current events.

“I like science,” said Iris Ahronowitz, a Harvard-bound senior and North Hollywood team captain. “We needed to relieve stress, but I don’t think we ever got tired of science.”

North Hollywood advanced to the national competition after winning the regional Science Bowl sponsored by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.

“I’m very proud of them,” said Koh Ikeda, North Hollywood science coach and teacher. “They did great.”

Los Angeles city schools have fared well at the science competition in recent years. Van Nuys High School won the championship in 1995, and Venice High won in 1996 and 1997. Los Angeles schools also have performed strongly in the U.S. Academic Decathlon, which was won last year by El Camino Real High School.

Other California schools finishing in the Science Bowl’s top eight this year included Mira Loma High in Sacramento and Albany High and Troy High in Fullerton.