Round Rock Students Among Top Competitors At Geography Bee

ROUND ROCK, TX -- Carmen Sandiego's got nothing on Dhruv Nistala or Ashish Jacob.

The two Round Rock students recently placed in the top ten standings at the National Geographic Bee state competition. Nistala, a seventh-grader at Grisham Middle School, and Jacob, a fifth-grader at Laurel Mountain Elementary School, finished second and tenth, respectively.

Details on their winning performances were outlined in a story on the Round Rock ISD website.

That's no easy feat. The National Geographic Bee is a rather competitive event that thoroughly tests the knowledge of the state's top 100 geography students.

“The National Geographic Bee state competition is a highly competitive event that selects the best students from across Texas to compete,” said Lisa Roberts, RRISD lead curriculum specialist for 6-12 social studies. “Having two students rank in the top 10 statewide is a testament to the hard work of the students, their parents and teachers who have supported their education.”

Nistala said he was first inspired to learn more about geography after getting a globe for Christmas when he was just five years old. The globe fascinated him, prompting him to research geography since he was in first grade.

He told district officials geography continues to fascinate him to this day: "Geography is more than learning about maps. It’s also learning about the culture and the history of people around the world, which helps to know what’s going on in the world.”

For his part, Jacob qualified for the state competition for the first time this year. His goal: To make it to the top ten -- a goal he accomplished through hours of study.

“I was really surprised and awestruck when I heard I had made it into the top 10,” Jacob told district officials. "I was not expecting that at all. I was extremely happy to complete my goal and all the studying paid off.”

>>> Photo of Dhruv Nistala with his trophy courtesy of Round Rock ISD