Stanwich School Student Advances in National Geographic Bee

There was palpable excitement in the air as a group of The Stanwich School’s sixth, seventh and eighth graders prepared to be questioned during the school’s qualifying round for the 26th annual National Geographic Bee.

The competitors included nine students, three in each grade, who qualified for the bee by taking a preliminary exam: sixth graders Ellie Clark, Mark Levitov and Edward Weld; seventh graders Colin Miles, Marcus Ng and Niklas Simosen; and eighth graders Ryan McMurchy, Joe Reilly and James Winn. This competition has been held for years at Stanwich for 7th and 8th graders. However, now with the entire school community on one campus, the sixth grade was invited to participate.

Each round during the bee, Stanwich Upper School history teacher Chris Hughes, the event moderator, asked questions for each contestant to answer orally and then asked a number of group questions in which contestants wrote down their answer on a dry erase board. In this competition, it’s two strikes and you’re out.

By the end, seven of the students were eliminated by a variety of questions, leaving sixth grader Edward Weld, and eighth grader Ryan McMurchy in the competition. In the final round, Ryan answered one out of three final questions correctly, while Edward took the prize by answering two out of three questions correctly.

Ryan McMurchy, who extended a handshake and then an embrace of his fellow schoolmate said, “I have to give respect to my sixth grade competitor. He did a great job.” The eighth grader also gave credit to his parents for their support and for taking him to Wyoming where he “learned two of the answers.” He also gave thanks to Mr. Hughes and Mr. Katona whose instruction helped him prepare, as well.

Edward’s map studying isn’t over yet, however. “Now I have to study online and I’ll ask my Dad for help so I can prepare” said Edward. “I didn’t study or prepare (for the competition), but I know a lot about geography. I’m very curious about the world.”

Mr. Hughes will give Edward a qualifying test and if he scores high enough, he will advance to the state level geography bee. Each state then sends its winner to the national competition in Washington, D.C. from May 11 through 13.

The winner receives a $50,000 scholarship, a lifetime subscription to National Geographic magazine, a Galápagos trip, and $500 cash.