North Allegheny’s Ingomar Middle School Team 1 and North Allegheny Senior High School claimed the top spots in the 2026 Western Pennsylvania Science Bowl (WPASB), a challenging academic competition sponsored by NETL, and advanced to National Science Bowl to be held in the spring.
The 2026 contest marked the 35th year that NETL has held the WPASB. The fast-paced, quiz show-style tournament is designed to encourage students to pursue excellence in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and prepare for rewarding STEM-related careers in energy and other disciplines.
The theme for this year’s WPASB was “Science: The Power Behind the Magic,” which acknowledges how STEM makes discoveries that once seemed impossible possible.
Middle schools competed on Friday, Feb. 27, while high schools competed Saturday, Feb. 28. The competition was held at the Community College of Allegheny County South Campus in West Mifflin.
Taking second, third and fourth place in the middle school competition were Mars Area Team 1, Marshall Team 1 (also located in the North Allegheny School District) and Pine-Richland Team 1, respectively.
Earning second, third and fourth place in the high school competition were South Fayette, State College and Moon Area, respectively.
The top four middle schools and high schools received cash prizes to support their STEM programs.
Other middle schools that competed in the WPASB were Albert Gallatin North, Carson Middle School, Fort Couch Middle School, Geibel Catholic Junior-Senior High School, Harrison Middle School, Independence Middle School, Peters Township Middle School, and Winchester Thurston School.
Rounding out the high school field were Baldwin, Bethel Park, Canon-McMillan, Central Catholic, Charleroi Area, Gateway, Keystone Oaks, Lenape Technical School, Mars Area, Mt. Lebanon, North Hills, Norwin, Peters Township, Pine-Richland, Sewickley Academy, Thomas Jefferson, Upper St. Clair, and Winchester Thurston.
The 2026 U.S. Department of Energy’s National Science Bowl will be to be held April 30 to May 4 in Washington, D.C.
NETL is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) national laboratory dedicated to innovating and accelerating the nation’s energy solutions in hydrocarbon, geothermal energy and critical minerals production. With research sites in Albany, Oregon; Morgantown, West Virginia; and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, NETL operates as one laboratory to create advanced energy technologies that support DOE’s mission and enable affordable, reliable and secure energy to fuel human prosperity.