Geography Bee Tests World Knowledge of Middle School Tartans

Answering challenging questions with their classmates looking on, 30 Middle School students participated in the annual Middle School Geography Bee and tested their knowledge of the world’s continents, oceans and countries in Hurlbut Theater.

The 30 students were selected through a qualifying quiz that all Middle School students took in history class. They answered questions during single-elimination rounds that narrowed the field from 30 down to the final three. Grade 7 student Levon Alyanakian and grade 8 students Wyatt Fales and Hayden Mann were the final three who participated in the championship written round.

In the end, after several questions in the written round, Levon emerged victorious by correctly answering “Belize” to the question “Border disputes have existed for years between Guatemala and what neighboring country that was formerly a British colony?” Hayden placed second and Wyatt placed third.

Also participating in last week’s Geography Bee were grade 8 students Mark Gonzalez, Tristan Horgan, Charlotte Newman, Aili McGregor, Sophia Karahalios, Alexis Lindenfelser and Andrew Miehe, grade 7 students Kaylynn Yang, Ryleigh Fitzsimmons, Tanner Harden, Blake Scheel, Heidi Tufo, Aimee Cho, Sophie Bredall, Radley Copps and Edmond Meng, and grade 6 students Ava Colaco, Ethan Stolper, Emily Guerinot, Jackson Miller, Niam Patel, Tessa Maryott, Matthew Valente, Rachel Cunningham and Caden Mai.

Last week’s competition is part of the nationwide National Geographic Bee, organized by the National Geographic Society, which welcomes students from 10,000 schools across the country. The nationwide competition culminates with the National Championship at National Geographic Society headquarters in Washington D.C., in May, with the overall winner receiving a college scholarship.

Levon will now take a qualifying quiz for a chance to compete in the National Geographic State Bee, which takes place March 29 in Sacramento.