Geography Takes Center Stage

Jan 17, 2019 | David Chudzik
geography bee

Answer the following question quickly without asking Siri or typing into a Google search-which Scandinavian nation hosts this year's Alpine Skiing World Championship and is the most populous?

If you answered Sweden like Jack W. (’23) did in Thursday’s Middle School Geography Bee then you can feel good about your social studies knowledge. For Jack, it means the title of 2019 Overlake School Geography Bee Championship, a terrific medal, and a trip to state competition with a shot at Nationals. 

The competition is part of National Geographic’s GeoBee which is designed to inspire and reward students’ curiosity about the world. “Knowing about the world isn’t scary. You might not know that by reading or watching the news,” Social Studies Teacher and Geography Bee moderator Dave Bennett told the students. “It’s an interesting place with all sorts of different people who live their lives on ice in the north and in jungles in the center. The world is a fun and exciting place.”

24-students fought through preliminary competition in the weeks leading to today’s final. Bennett presented questions from the GeoBee through a double elimination process. Questions ranged from natural resources, countries, government, and geographic features. The competition culminated with two finalists who answered the same three questions. Jack won by getting one of the three correct. 

He says preparation wasn’t an overnight cramming session test, but rather a life-long passion for geography. “When I was little, I always picked up atlases and looked through the pages of places all over the world,” says the Overlake Eighth Grader. “Also, thanks to Mr. Bennett’s 7th grade class, I was really able to learn a lot about countries and that’s what I enjoy studying the most.”

Jack can now prepare for the state competition in March, and if he wins there, he’ll represent Washington in the National Championship being held in May at National Geographic Society’s headquarters in Washington D.C.

Click here for a photo gallery of this year's Geography Bee.