Creating a sustainable economic future for the region.
Creating a sustainable economic future for the region.
Thank you for visiting our website and learning more about the decontamination and decommissioning (D&D) progress at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Pike County, Ohio.
SOCCo is comprised of more than 2,000 workers dedicated to the safe environmental cleanup of the Portsmouth site to prepare the land for reindustrialization.
As you click through our website, you will see that a large part of our mission is our commitment to building a strong and sustainable economy in southern Ohio through regional purchasing and economic development grants; supporting the needs of area non-profit organizations; and, the advancement of the region’s next generation through STEM education and worker training.
On behalf of all of us at SOCCo, we hope you enjoy learning more about us and look forward to continually sharing our progress here at the site.
Sincerely,
Pat Timbes
SOCCo President and CEO
Schools in Pike, Ross, Scioto and Jackson counties can now preregister for this year’s South Central Ohio High School Regional Science Bowl. Coaches either log-in to existing or create new accounts. The only information needed initially is the coach, co-coach, and school information. Coaches will not be asked (or allowed) to enter any information on the team members.
After the team coach agrees to follow the eligibility requirements AND consents to the information in the former “Adult Consent and Media Form”, the coach can submit the school’s PREREGISTRATION.
After the coach submits the school PREREGISTRATION, the Regional Coordinator will approve the PREREGISTRATION if there is space. An approved PREREGISTRATION secures at least one spot for a school. Note: If the coach or co-coach is not a school employee, the school principal must complete the coach approval before PREREGISTRATION can be approved. ONLY after the school’s PREREGISTRATION is approved, can the coach begin building their teams.
Between PREREGISTRATION approval and November 23, 2026, at 11:59 pm local time, the coach must SUBMIT their Team 1 registration. If the coach does not submit the Team 1 registration BEFORE November 24, 2026, the school loses its reserved space. Note: Preregistrations approved after November 23, 2026, are NOT guaranteed a space in the competition.
In order to SUBMIT a team registration, a signed “Parental Consent and Media Release Form” must be submitted for each team member – these forms are to be signed electronically by the parents/guardians. These electronic forms will be available after you enter the students’ information. To repeat: a coach cannot submit a team registration without completed and signed parental forms.
IF an event allows 2nd and 3rd teams, coaches may work on completing the submission process for the 2nd/3rd teams any time after the PREREGISTRATION is approved. However, 2nd and 3rd teams will not be approved before December 9, 2026. There will be no “first come, first served” approvals before January 1, 2026. If there is not enough space for all teams, second or third teams will be selected via a lottery system. Please email the Regional Coordinator for more information.
For assistance in registration, please review the registration guide here.
The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) 14th Annual South Central Ohio Science Bowl was a record year of competition with 40 teams, the most in the event’s history, representing 21 schools from Pike, Scioto, Ross and Jackson counties.
Valley High School was again this year’s winner and will compete in the National Science Bowl in Washington, D.C., in April. Notre Dame High School, Wheelersburg High School, and Zane Trace High School rounded out this year’s final four.
Front from left to right, Department of Energy Acting Portsmouth Site Lead Jud Lilly, Nathan Canter, Alex Smith, Abigail Gullett, Myles DeAtley, Reagan Rolfe, ETAS Public Affairs Specialist Melissa Green. Back row left to right, Valley Science Bowl Coach Justin Howard, Department of Energy Strategic Planner Greg Simonton and Southern Ohio Cleanup Company Program Manager Pat Timbes
“The excitement for Science Bowl just continues to grow, and to have a record number of 40 teams competing is a testament to how much our local schools value this opportunity,” Acting DOE Portsmouth Site Lead Jud Lilly said.
This is Valley High Schools third championship in a row.
“It was definitely a lot more pressure coming in and knowing that everyone has a target on you,” said Valley Science Bowl Coach Justin Howard. “I told the team to take it one match at a time and try not to think about the championship match.”
The team from Valley High School will receive an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C., to compete in the National Science Bowl April 30-May 4. In addition to competing with teams from across the country, the students will also get the opportunity to participate in science activities and tour the city.
Our mission is to safely decontaminate and decommission the Portsmouth Site while partnering with the community to create a sustainable economic future for the region.