Newark Whiz Kid: Anirudh Kumar

Thank you for checking out our next installment of Newark Patch's Whiz Kid feature! This is where we feature an outstanding Newark young person or group. If you have someone you'd like to , send an e-mail to editor Kris Vera-Phillips at kvp@patch.com. Please follow the format below and include a photo of your nominee.

Name: Anirudh Kumar

School: , 8th grade

Accomplishment: Challenger School Headmaster Joseph Morrison announced Kumar will compete in tomorrow’s State Geographic Bee in Sacramento.

Key to Awesomeness (What made him, her or the team successful?): “Anirudh's love for geography is his own personal motivator,” Morrison said in an email message to Newark Patch. “He is very determined and I hope he does well on Friday.”

In a phone interview, Kumar told Newark Patch he is nervous, but he is also looking forward to tomorrow’s competition.

“Geography is my passion and it helps me understand the world,” Kumar said. “You can learn everything about the diversity of the world: the history, the people, everything.”

According to the National Geographic Bee website, the state contests mark the second level of this annual competition. Kumar and millions of other students from nearly 12,000 schools around the country competed in the first level of contests last November.

Kumar’s high marks earned him a spot among 100 California students who are facing off in the State Geographic Bee. The winner of tomorrow’s event will advance to the National Geographic Bee in Washington, D.C., in May.

Morrison says his school has not done anything different to prepare Kumar for Friday’s event. According to Morrison, Challenger teachers offer a curriculum that encourages students to expand their knowledge base through personal discovery and achievement.

“From first grade, Challenger's curriculum incorporates geography across many subjects, including history, literature and science,” Morrison said. “Our students in general understand geography very well.  Anirudh takes it to another level, however. He has quite a passion for geography.”

Depending on his homework and other activities, Kumar says he studies geography after school, every day for about three to four hours.

Kumar says he studies the National Geographic Atlas Books as well as several other reference books.

“It’s beyond memorization,” Kumar explained. “You need an understanding of all the physical characteristics of a location. You need to know about the current affairs and the history.”

When asked where he wants to go in the world, Kumar said he wants to go "everywhere." Then Newark Patch asked him where he wanted to go the next day.

“Switzerland,” Kumar answered. “I want to see the Swiss Alps and the beautiful landscape.”