Lower School students swept the first three spots in the annual Geography Bee on January 22, besting older students in Grades 5-8. Fourth Graders Matthew Volfson and Patrick Berg were the two finalists who competed against each other in the championship round. Matthew emerged the winner after correctly naming the peninsula where Norway is located. Patrick’s brother, Myles Berg, a Fifth Grader, came in third.
Ten students in all took part in the contest. The other participants this year were Joey Shagoury (Fifth Grade); Liam Wilson and Gabby Rayev (Sixth Grade); Kelsey Lynch and Calvin Cochran (Seventh Grade); and Molly Connors and Nick Whalen (Eighth Grade).
Schools with students in Grades Four through Eight are eligible for this entertaining and challenging test of geographic knowledge sponsored by the National Geographic Society. Each year thousands of schools across the United States participate in the contest, which is designed to encourage teachers to include geography in their classrooms, spark student interest in the subject, and increase public awareness about geography.
Matthew will now join other winners from around the country in taking a statewide test to determine his eligibility for the national exam to be held at National Geographic Headquarters in Washington, D.C. in the spring. The winner of that contest will receive a $25,000 scholarship.
