At a Middle School assembly this week, students cheered on their peers competing in Graland’s National Geographic Bee, a stepping stone to the statewide contest later this spring. Two representatives from each grade level prequalified to show their knowledge about US and world geography and in the end, Will Montgomery (8) took home the title of Graland’s 2018 Geography Bee Champion.

 

After middle schoolers watched a video about geography and the importance of exploring the world, the main event got underway with some encouraging words from master of ceremonies John Caldwell: “Your teachers are very proud of you and your perseverance. We throw around the word ‘grit’ a lot and grit means putting yourself out there.”

 

Questions centered around US states, rivers and economies and students were also quizzed on their map reading skills and knowledge of US cities. It took several rounds of competition before Will faced Claire Arney (7) in the championship round. Answering two of the final three questions correctly, Will was named the bee champ.

To prepare for the competition, Will invested hours in online geography quizzes and watched the world news each night. Before the state bee, he will have to pass a qualifying exam and he also plans study maps to become familiar with obscure places around the globe. This will be his second time competing on the state level; in 2016 he placed in the top 10.

"I couldn’t be prouder of Will’s performance," shares his history teacher, Jane Maslanka. "His enthusiasm, hard work, and excellent memory all paid off. I wish him the best of luck on the upcoming National Geographic Test—I’m sure he’ll approach it with his customary positive attitude and determination!" 

Good luck, Will!