(Note to Media: The questions listed below are embargoed by National Geographic until MIDNIGHT and may be published/announced Saturday, April 2.)
ARUNABH SINGH FROM SCHILLING FARMS MIDDLE SCHOOL WINS 2011 TENNESSEE GEOGRAPHIC BEE
Arunabh Singh, a 14-year-old eighth-grader from Schilling Farms Middle School in Collierville, TN, took top honors at the 2011 Tennessee state-level Geographic Bee. He won $100, a complete National Geographic Magazine set on CD, and an all-expenses paid trip to Washington, D.C., to compete in the finals of the 23rd annual National Geographic Bee on May 24-25. The Bee is organized by the National Geographic Society. This year's state sponsors are Google and Plum Creek.
Up to 100 fourth- to eighth-graders in each of the 50 states, District of Columbia, U.S. territories and Department of Defense Schools took part in the state Bees. First prize in the national competition is a $25,000 college scholarship and lifetime membership in the National Geographic Society. Second and third place finishers receive $15,000 and $10,000 college scholarships. The championship round on May 25 will be moderated by "Jeopardy!"'s Alex Trebek and will be broadcast across the country that day by the National Geographic Channel and later on public television stations.
The 2011 Tennessee Geographic Bee took place on Friday, April 1, at Tennessee State University's Avon Williams (downtown) Campus. At the close of the morning preliminary round competitions, those students with the top ten scores advanced to the final rounds which began at 12 noon. State champion Arunabh Singh was joined in the winner's circle with runner-up and second-place winner Adithyan Sujithjkumar, a fifth grader from Roberstville Middle in Oak Ridge, TN. Third place winner is Skye Cameron, an eighth grader from University School of Nashville in Nashville, TN.
These geographic bees were established by National Geographic Society beginning in 1989 to help promote geography education. In addressing Tennessee's top geography students at the State Bee on April 1st, state coordinator Catherine Kelly commented that "we have truly become a global community. By expanding our knowledge of the world, we can become more interconnected and begin to see issues and events as not just 'theirs' but 'ours.'' And she encouraged the competitors to "continue to discover more about our planet and motivate others to respect and protect its diverse peoples, environments and resources."
Winning Question in the Championship Round of the 2011 TN Geographic Bee
In 2010, national boundaries were established in the Barents Sea by an agreement between Russia and what country?
Answer: Norway
Other Final Round Questions
The landlocked country of Swaziland borders South Africa and what other country?
Answer: Mozambique
Lake Balaton is in the Transdanubia region of what country?
Answer: Hungary
What river that flows by Tanana, Galena, and Russian Mission has its headwaters in Canada and saw increased traffic during the gold rush of the late 1800s?
Answer: Yukon River
The second-longest river in Africa flows past Kinshasa before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean. Name this river.
Answer: Congo River
Only one of the five founding members of OPEC, an organization of oil-exporting countries, is located in South America. Name this country, which borders the Caribbean Sea.
Answer: Venezuela
2011 Tennessee Geographic Bee Finalists
1st Place Arunabh Singh, 8th grader, Schilling Farms Middle School, Collierville
2nd Place Adithyan Sujithkumar, 5th grader, Roberstville Middle, Oak Ridge
3rd Place Skye Cameron, 8th grader, University School of Nashville, Nashville
4th Place Adam Hasan, 8th grader, West Valley Middle, Knoxville
5th Place Ben Tracy, 8th grader, Lamp Lighter Montessori, Memphis
6th Place Ian Scholeer, 8th grader, Harding Academy, Nashville
7th Place J.R. Jamora, 8th grader, St. Francis of Assisi, Cordova
8th Place Kai Smith, 8th grader, Farragut Middle, Knoxville
9th Place Tanner Wood, 8th grader, Watertown Elementary, Watertown
10th Place Luis Barranco, 7th grader, Lausanne Collegiate, Memphis
For photos from the 2011 TN Geographic Bee, go to www.tngeographicbee.org.
