Reed Geography Bee Competitors

Know Where It’s At

By Eliza Hallabeck

“I want to welcome everybody to our 2009 Geography Bee,” said Reed Intermediate School sixth grade teacher Maura Drabik as the entire student body sat in the cafeteria on Wednesday, January 15, and the students on the stage prepared themselves for this year’s National Geographic Geography Bee.

Audience members came prepared with signs to root for the student they wanted to win the Geography Bee.

“They had to go through seven preliminary rounds to get here,” Ms Drabik said about the ten students who sat on the cafeteria’s stage.

Ms Drabik said the National Geographic Geography Bee takes place in all 50 states, and each school’s winning student goes on to compete at the state level. Students who progresses past the state level will continue on to the national level, where they could potentially win a $25,000 scholarship.

Just days before Reed Intermediate students took part in their school’s Geography Bee, students at Newtown Middle School also took part in the competition on Friday, January 9.

Reed Intermediate School Principal Donna Denniston read the questions for the students.

“General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House in what state?” Ms Denniston read.

The correct answer is Virginia, but that was only one question the students had to face.

With students in the audience reacting to their fellow students answering, one-by-one the rounds in the bee brought more students off stage until there were three left.

Nathyn Horvath received third place, Denise Kuban received second place, and Genti Limani received first place.

“We wish you the very best of luck at the next level of the competition,” Ms Denniston said to the students.