Feb. 7, 2026, Redmond — Timberline Middle School’s Team 1 from Redmond won the Bonneville Power Administration Regional Middle School Science Bowl on Saturday, earning top honors in a full day of rapid-fire STEM competition at the University of Portland.
Timberline took first place in the round-robin, double-elimination tournament, with Evergreen Middle School’s Team 1 of Redmond finishing second and Willamette Valley Middle School Team 1 of Beaverton, Oregon, taking third.
The BPA Regional draws teams from across western Washington and parts of Oregon and tests students on biology, chemistry, physics, math, earth science, energy, and environmental topics in a fast question-and-answer format.
The regional event is one step on the path to the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Science Bowl. Regional champions historically earn a berth to the national finals in Washington, D.C., which this year are scheduled for April 30 through May 4.
Coaches and students who compete at BPA use the event both to measure their knowledge and to sharpen quick thinking under pressure, a skill that matters in science as much as in buzzer rounds.
The BPA Science Bowl uses a competition format that keeps teams active all day.
Schools preregistered their programs earlier in the season and brought teams of four students, plus alternates and an adult coach.
The regional field serves a wide area, including King County, where Redmond is located, and community organizers said the University of Portland’s campus provides the sort of campus setting that lets teams rotate through multiple matches in a single day.
Local STEM programs have a recent history of strong showings at BPA regionals.
Last year, Redmond teams from Evergreen and Timberline placed among the top finishers, and organizers say that continued success reflects growing emphasis on after-school science clubs and classroom preparations in the district.
Timberline’s win this weekend continues that pattern and puts the team in position to represent the region at the national finals in the spring.
Event coordinators reminded coaches that the BPA regional is deliberately broad in scope. Questions range from basic arithmetic and algebra to energy concepts and environmental science, and matches reward both speed and accuracy.
The format also encourages schools to bring multiple teams when space allows; regional rules limit the number of teams per school while offering a clear path for additional squads through a lottery if the field is full.
Regional staff credited the volunteer coaches, teachers, and students for making the event run smoothly.
Heather Bain, the regional coordinator for the BPA Science Bowl, and co-coordinator Michael Campbell handled registration and logistics for the tournament.
Organizers said preregistration and team paperwork procedures keep the focus on competition day and ensure teams are ready to play without administrative delays.
For Timberline students, the win is a practical reward for months of practice and a chance to test themselves on a national stage.
Coaches often use the regional experience to fine-tune strategies — for example, who buzzes in on certain categories and how teams manage time between matches.
If Timberline accepts the regional berth, the team will begin preparing for the intense pace and broad subject matter of the National Science Bowl finals in Washington, D.C.
Parents and community members who want to follow Timberline’s progress or congratulate the team can contact the school or check the BPA regional page for updates.
Regional organizers also invited other schools interested in future Science Bowl competitions to reach out before preregistration opens next season.
For more information about the BPA regional event, registration procedures, or regional contacts, email Heather Bain at hlbain@bpa.gov.
Sources: Bonneville Power Administration Regional Science Bowl materials; U.S. Department of Energy National Science Bowl information; University of Portland event listings.
