Schools
11-year-old Boy Named School Geography Champion
Teo Bortan, of Old Saybrook, was named school geography champion at Saint Bernard School on Jan. 31.
Teo Bortan, 11, of Old Saybrook, was named school geography champion during the final round of the National Geographic Bee on Jan. 31 at Saint Bernard School.
“I am most definitely surprised,” said Teo. “I focused mostly on the United States (during preparation), but I think it was just a lucky guess.”
Teo will now take a written qualifying test administered by School Bee Coordinator Susan Evento. The 100 top ranked students in each state qualify to represent their school in the state Bee in April.
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Teo said he has never advanced to the state round, but did place first and third in two separate geography bees when he was a student at Old Saybrook Middle School.
“I definitely would like to go to states,” he said.
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The National Geographic Bee is a competition for public schools, private schools and homeschools. The contest is open to all students in grades four through eight.
The state champions advance to the national championship in Washington, D.C., where they compete for various scholarship and cash prizes. The winner of the National Geographic Bee finals receives a $50,000 scholarship, a lifetime subscription to National Geographic magazine, a trip, and $500 cash
