Geography Bee Winners from Everest Academy Middle School
Lemont, IL (PRWEB) January 31, 2014 -- “Always Higher” is the motto at Everest Academy where the competition for the National Geographic Society Geography Bee challenged students from the valleys to the mountain tops. Mr. Robert Gath, the Middle School Geography Bee Coordinator at Everest and organizer of the school contest, reported that middle school students from grades five through eighth prepared for months to compete in the contest. The competition starts at the local level but quickly moves to the state, national and world level. The top overall winners from Everest Academy were first place winner, fifth grader, Max Persak and 2nd place winner, sixth grader, Cassandra Hamilton, both from Lemont.
“Academic competitions are opportunities that allow our students to participate in healthy scholastic contests where they share their talents, exercise and develop their intellect, refine their public presentation skills and establish their confidence as leaders,” commented Ms. Christine Gamache, principal at Everest Academy. Ms. Gamache continued, “Our mission at Everest is to educate leaders who will make a difference in the world. These and other academic competitions help motivate the students to enjoy learning as they become proficient in a subject and as they grow in confidence. Geography, in particular, helps students become more understanding of and open to the world beyond what is around them.”
The Everest Geography Bee is a relatively new annual competition at the school. This year the completion enjoyed the audience of all the Everest middle school students in grades five through eight, parents, family members and friends. The top winner Max Persak will take a written test on January 24th in order to qualify for the State Geography Bee. Students from all fifty states participate in the National Geographic Society Geography Bee which is designed to encourage the teaching and study of geography The first place winner of the National Contest held in Washington DC, is awarded a $25,000 college scholarship. Last year the United States took top honors at the 11th National Geographic World Championship, held in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Questions and answers for the Bee were provided by the National Geographic Society. Topics included places, names, and locations of cultural features, patterns of language, religion, and economic activities, populations, political systems, land forms, climate and environment. The format of the Geography Bee calls for brief, quick answers, usually one word or a phrase given within the allotted fifteen second time frame. Some questions require the interpretation of maps, graphs and statistics. Students in fourth through eighth grade are eligible to participate.
Everest Academy is an independent Roman Catholic school in Lemont educating children from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. The teachers and staff are dedicated to forming the whole child by providing the highest level of academics, by building strong character, and by preparing generous leaders ready to serve the community. To learn more about Everest Academy’s approach to education, please contact KC Wollenberg at 630-243-1995 or visit http://www.everestadvantage.org.
KC Wollenberg, Everest Academy, http://www.EverestAdvantage.org, +1 (630) 243-1995 Ext: 7007, [email protected]
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