National Geographic Bee held at Hilltop Country Day School

Sparta — Rakesh Mitra, a seventh grade student at Hilltop Country Day School, won the school-level competition of the National Geographic Bee on Jan. 10 and a chance at a $25,000 college scholarship. Students in the fifth through eighth grades answered questions on geography. There were nine finalists. They were eighth grade students Brendan Parisi and Mackenzie Keck; seventh graders Hadley Ingersoll, Rakesh Mitra and Gray Prant; sixth graders Victoria Scarpa and Philip Stefani; and fifth graders Griffin Brettler and Garrison Keck. This was the first round in the 19th annual National Geographic Bee, which is sponsored by the National Geographic Society. Thousands of schools around the United States and in the five U. S. territories participate in this event. The school winners, including Rakesh, will take a written exam as the next phase of the competition. Up to 100 of the top scorers in each state will be then be eligible to compete in the state Bee on March 30. The National Geographic Society will provide an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C., for the state champions and teacher-escorts to participate in the National Geographic Bee national championship on May 22 and 23. The first-place national winner will receive a $25,000 college scholarship. “Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek will moderate the national finals on May 23. The program will be televised, so check your local listing for dates and times. Anyone can brush up on geography with GeoBee challenge, go online and take the geography quiz at www.nationalgeographic.com/geobee. The GeoBee Challenge board game, which won the prestigious Parents’ Choice Award, provides geography fun for the whole family. This competition helped the students to discover the excitement of learning and to develop good study habits which are all part of the school’s mission. For information on Hilltop Country Day School, located in Sparta, log on to www.hilltopcds.org.