LA PLATA, Md. (Feb. 24, 2009)—J. P. Ryon Elementary School in Waldorf held a Geography Bee on Jan. 12. Ten students were selected to participate, based on results of a written geography test administered to all fourth- and fifth-grade students.
Fourth grader Mone Warren won first place in the bee. She is now eligible to take a written geography test to qualify for the state-level competition, to be held April 3. Winners at the state bee advance to the National Geographic Bee, scheduled for May 19-20 in Washington D.C.
Kristopher Emory, a fifth-grade student, won second place in the school bee and Elijah James, a fourth grader, was awarded third place.
The bee was coordinated and administered by Barbi Curtis, a gifted resource teacher at J. P. Ryon and Dr. Samuel A. Mudd elementary schools.
Each year, schools with students in grades four through eight participate in the National Geographic Bee using materials prepared by the National Geographic Society. The contest is designed to encourage teachers to include geography in their classrooms, spark student interest in the subject, and increase public awareness about geography.