Invitation to Sponsors

Support Alaska's marine science students!

An invitation for donations to the annual Alaska Tsunami National Ocean Sciences Bowl

Each February, the annual Alaska Region National Ocean Sciences Bowl competition is held in Seward. This is a prestigious national academic contest. High school students who enter this competition learn about marine sciences and gain invaluable writing, public speaking and teamwork skills. Teams from all over Alaska participate in this competition. Many of these teams will need financial support to help with the expenses of their trip to Seward.

The Tsunami Bowl has two components:

  1. A quiz-game tournament focused on knowledge of environmental sciences, including oceanography, biology, geology, chemistry, physics and current events.
  2. A research project with a written report and an oral presentation to the other teams at the competition.

The quiz bowl includes three types of questions.

  1. Toss-up questions read orally and answered individually that require a sophisticated knowledge of environmental sciences, including oceanography, biology, geology, chemistry, physics and current events, as well as a fast reaction time.  
  2. Bonus questions read orally that are answered as a team.
  3. Team Challenge questions that are written out and require more in-depth analysis and interpretation of data by the team.

The winning Alaskan team will travel to the NOSB finals to compete against teams representing the other 24 regions from around the country.

To encourage the involvement of artistically inclined students, a juried art show titled The Ocean Connection: A Visual Celebration of Art and Science is held in conjunction with the Alaska regional competition. The show is displayed in the lobby of the K.M. Rae Marine Education Building.

To learn more about the NOSB competition and teams involved, I encourage you to explore this Alaska Tsunami National Ocean Sciences Bowl website, particularly our archives from past years' competitions.

What is needed?

For the Alaska Region NOSB we need help from individuals, businesses and industries in these three areas:

  1. Logistic support in transporting, feeding, and housing high school teams (each with 5 members and a coach) for the regional competition in Seward.

  2. Recognition of participants and winners in the form of awards, prizes and mementos of the competition.

  3. Monetary contributions to support the competition, help with travel expenses, and for the purchase of prizes.

How sponsors will benefit from their participation

  1. Because participants come from across Alaska, sponsors get statewide exposure for their contributions. Major sponsors will be recognized in the event program, during the competition, and at the awards ceremony.
  2. All donations are tax deductible under section 170(b)(1)(A)(ii) of the IRS Code.
  3. Alaska Sea Grant hosts Alaska's NOSB website, which includes a sponsor page. Check out the current sponsor page and our archives.
  4. Students gain valuable teamwork skills that are not normally acquired in standard high school curricula. This makes them uniquely valuable potential employees.

Our sponsorship opportunities page gives more details about what sponsors receive in return for various levels of support.

Alaskans are dependent on the ocean and its diverse resources. This contest cultivates future citizens and leaders who are conversant about our marine environment.

You are invited to get involved in the National Ocean Sciences Bowl. We are interested in ALL forms of assistance. If you'd like to make a contribution, please print out our donation form (PDF) and send it in with your donation. Or you can donate online through the UAF Development Office. Specify “National Ocean Sciences Bowl” as the
recipient of your donation. Please contact me if you have any questions or need further information.

Don't miss out on this outstanding chance to show your support for education and the talented, hard-working high school students who have the initiative to participate in this challenging tournament.

Thank you,

Sydney Bolin
Tsunami Bowl Regional Coordinator
Alaska SeaLife Center
Seward, Alaska
(907) 224-6304