Alamo Second Grader Scores Big At International Geography Competition

DANVILLE, CA — Cristian Cruz is definitely on the map. The second grader at Rancho Romero Elementary School in Alamo recently scored sixth in the nation and second in California in his age group at the International Geography Bee.

Earlier this year, Cruz was one of the youngest students in the country to qualify for the Elementary and Middle School National Championships in Arlington, Virginia. At the championships, he was one of just 64 students to move up to quarterfinals, and the only second grader in his assigned cohort.

In the quarterfinals, he placed 40th nationwide in the fourth grade and under division, sixth nationwide among second graders, and second in California among second graders.

Cruz won a gold medal at a regional competition in March, and also qualified for an international championship, which he will play once he is eligible after completing third grade.

“Cristian managed the pressure very well and enjoyed the buzzer tournament,” his mother Liliana wrote in an email. “We are very proud of how well he did for being his first time and having joined the tournament 7 months ago, last November, while other players have one to two years of experience and are older than him. We can see he has potential for the years to come.”

The geography bee is run by International Academic Competitions and will be held June 1-4 in Arlington, Virginia. Other buzzer-based and exam-based competitions will include the International Geography Bee, the National History Bee, the National Science Bee, the U.S. History Bee, the United States Geography Championships, the National History Bowl and the U.S. Academic Bee.