Reed Intermediate School sixth graders who made it through preliminary tests into the school’s Geography Bee faced off on Tuesday, January 14. Cole Morelli emerged as the school champion.

Reed sixth grade teacher Maura Drabik introduced an assembly of students to the school’s cafetorium for the event, and explained the proceedings and background of the National Geographic Geography Bee at Reed.

Each sixth grade student participating in the Geography Bee represented his or her cluster.

The National Geographic Geography Bee takes place in schools across the country, and each school’s winning student goes on to complete a test to determine whether he or she will compete at the state level. Students who progress past the state level will continue on to the national level, where they could potentially win a $25,000 scholarship and an all-expense-paid trip to the Galapagos Islands. 

Newtown Middle School also held a National Geographic Geography Bee on Thursday, January 9.

Contenders were Adam Guerin, Anna La Banca, Margaret O’Sullivan, Eileen McCleary, Brett Melchionno, Colin Zhang, Jackson Hebner, James Tibolla, and Cole Morelli, who made it through multiple rounds to win the competition.

Reed Intermediate School Principal Anne Uberti acted as moderator for the event, reading questions for each round of the bee.

After multiple rounds Cole and Adam were left to compete in a finalists round of the competition.

“He is our new champion,” Ms Uberti announced when Cole successfully answered his final question of the bee.