Share

INVERURIE ACADEMY TRIUMPH IN NORTHSOUND ENERGY SCHOOLS CHALLENGE 2011

A team of pupils from Inverurie Academy has beaten off stiff competition from schools across Aberdeen City and Shire to be crowned champions in the Northsound 1 Energy Schools Challenge 2011.

The team triumphed over last year’s winners, Westhill Academy, in the grand finale of the challenge, which took place on Sunday, December 18, beating them by the smallest of margins – a single point.

The annual challenge, which has OPITO as its official partner, saw teams from secondary schools putting their knowledge to the test as they were quizzed on topics such as entertainment, sport, music, movies and famous people.

The event, which was sponsored by a number of energy companies, also involved a special round on the oil and gas industry, with multiple choice questions on oil fields, drilling, engineering, chemistry and physics.

The team, comprising Stephen Innes (S6), Erin Ewen (S5), Matthew Battensby (S4) and Stuart Ellington (S3), will take home a laptop and £300 for their school, as well as individual cash prizes of £60.

The Westhill Academy team was made up of Jonathan Shaw (S6), S5 Hayley Dalmon (S5), Joe Steel (S4) and Ryan Spink (S3) and they will receive £200 for their school and £40 each

The final was sponsored by Maersk and broadcast on Northsound 1 on Sunday at 3.30pm.

The teams were put through their paces by Northsound 1 presenter Yazz, with breakfast show presenter Greigsy taking up the role of scorekeeper.

Northsound’s Station Director Cathy Kirk said: “The Northsound 1 Energy Schools Challenge is an exciting and fun competition for local schools to take part in and I would like to congratulate the team from Inverurie Academy for winning the overall competition, and thank all the teams who took part and the sponsors for their support.

“Northsound is a key part of the local business community so this is a chance for Northsound to give something back to the local oil and gas industry and encourage future generations of pupils to pursue a career which utilises one of the STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths – subjects.”

Martin Rune Pedersen, managing director at Maersk Oil North Sea UK Limited, said: “These students are the potential engineers, mechanics and project managers of the future and the Northsound Energy Schools Challenege, especially the special round in oil and gas, is a great way to show future generations what the energy industry has to offer.

“The enthusiasm and determination of pupils taking part in the popular event never fails to impress us and we are delighted to support the fun quiz.”

This year’s sponsors AGR Petroleum, Marathon, ECITB, Apache, Exxon Mobile, Petrofac, Nexen, TAQA and Maersk Oil.

Northsound 1 is available on 96.9 MHz, 97.6 MHz, 103.0 MHz, online at www.northsound1.com and on DAB.

140 views