Three Sixth-Graders Advance to National Geo Bee

Which trail begins at Springer Mountain and ends over 2,000 miles away on the top of Mount Katahdin? What is the largest country in the world by population not to have a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council? Questions like these are the norm for students participating in the Geography Bee. Sixth-graders Gabriella Napier, Bennett Klaus, and Thomas Readinger represented FWCD’s Mason Middle School in the Regional Finals for the Geography Bee with International Academic Competitions. “The entire sixth-grade took the qualifying exam during a class prior, and well over 90% of our kids qualified for regionals,” said Middle School History Teacher Tara Westbrook.

The top five advanced to compete in the online Regional Finals on May 1: Charlie Anderson and Linsey Bevis, with Napier, Klaus and Readinger scoring in the top 25% of the thousands who competed across the country. All three students qualified for nationals and are headed to Orlando to complete in the 2022 National Championship in June. 

“All three students who qualified for nationals are very excited,” Westbrook said. “It's amazing watching them apply their knowledge of geography and compete against others with a similar passion for the subject. While the questions are a way to measure some knowledge, these kids are practicing the skills of critical thinking and problem-solving.”

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