Farragut High School – Team One beats out 59 teams to win the 2026 Tennessee Science Bowl

High school students from across the state faced off in East Tennessee on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, putting their scientific wits to the test in the Tennessee Science Bowl, a fast-paced academic competition that pits teams of four students against each other in a quiz-show-style contest. The event serves all public, private and homeschool students in 9^th – 12^th grades.

Held at Pellissippi State Community College’s Blount Campus, the regional bowl prepares students to compete nationally with other exceptional students from across the country.

Through round-robin and elimination rounds, 60 teams from 46 schools competed to answer questions on a wide range of science topics including biology, chemistry, Earth science, physics, energy and math. At the end of the competition, Farragut High School – Team One was the last team standing. In addition to the trophy and $1,000 cash prize for their school, these students received an all-expenses-paid trip to represent Tennessee at the U.S. Department of Energy National Science Bowl in Washington, D.C., April 30 through May 4, 2026. Because Tennessee Science Bowl is the largest regional science bowl in the country, for the first time in TSB’s 36 years the second-place team, Collierville High School – Team One, will also compete in Washington, D.C.

In addition to the winning team, cash prizes and trophies were also awarded to the following schools:

• Collierville High School – Team One, second place ($750)
• Farragut High School – Team Two, third place ($500)
• Ravenwood High School – Team One, fourth place ($250)

Knoxville Catholic High School received the Civility Award which is given to the team that demonstrates the best sportsmanship throughout the competition. They were awarded $100 and a trophy.

“The Tennessee Science Bowl is a great event that truly showcases the state’s up-and-coming leaders in the STEM field,” said Trey Wheeler, DOE Oak Ridge National Laboratory Site Office Manager. “It’s fun to watch high school students compete in a fast-paced game of wits. While we see students and teams battle it out for the championship trophy, we know that it is so much more. We know that these are the very men and women who will be leading our country into the future through their careers in science, technology, engineering and math.”

This was the 36^th annual Tennessee Science Bowl. The two-day event kicked off with a professional opportunities fair for all the student participants. It takes over 200 volunteers to put on all the activities throughout the weekend.

“The Tennessee Science Bowl is an amazing opportunity for students to demonstrate their scientific knowledge while having fun,” said Meghan Millwood, ORAU President and CEO. “ORAU and ORISE are proud to support and manage the Tennessee Science Bowl for the Department of Energy. This event is just one piece of ORAU’s commitment to strengthening STEM education in Tennessee.”

Millwood, along with Keri Cagle, Ed.D., Senior VP and Director of the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), and Jamie Weaver, Director of the Business Division for the DOE ORNL Site Office, presented trophies and checks to winning teams. ORAU manages ORISE for DOE.

In addition to ORAU, ORISE and DOE, Tennessee Science Bowl is sponsored by Pellissippi State Community College and LIS Technologies, Inc.