MBA, GCA students vie for state level Geography Bee

Two students from the CNMI may get the chance to represent the entire Pacific territories at the National Geography Bee competition in Washington, D.C. scheduled next month.

The National Geography Society, which organizes the contest, set a simultaneous written test for 10 students from U.S. territories who got the highest scores in each territory’s school level competitions. Students from the CNMI took the state level written test on Friday.

Eric Dickinson, from the Geographic Society, earlier informed all Pacific territories’ schools that three students from the CNMI, six from American Samoa, and one from Guam qualified to take the written state level test.

Qualifiers from the CNMI included Marianas Baptist Academy’s Suk Koo Kim, Grace Christian Academy’s Angela F. Mamaril, and Chacha Oceanview Junior High’s Zalika A. Joyner, who was not able to take the actual state level exam last Friday at the PSS central office.

“It was a one-hour test and will determine which student from the Pacific territories will represent them at the national finals of the National Geography Bee in D.C. in May,” Dickinson told CNMI principals.

The result of the state level exam is due for release end of this month.

Saipan Tribune learned that MBA has been holding the state geography titles and has represented the CNMI at the nationals since 1989, the inception of the national program.

MBA principal Ramir Trinidad said the National Geography Bee competition was conducted on the island the same way as other competitions like Mathcounts, forensic leagues, and others.

It was in 1996 when the national organizer decided to have only one representative from Pacific territories.

MBA students who were sent to the national geography bee included Jose Marie Villagomez, 1989-1990; Hitomi Saso, 1991-1992; and Paul Murphy in 1994.

Trinidad has been designated the national coach for the CNMI delegates for four years.

This year, the principal hopes that MBA’s Suk Koo Kim would be successful in getting the seat for the national contest.

“I wish he’ll be able to make it. He worked hard. He was truly challenged by this competition and we’re optimistic,” Trinidad told Saipan Tribune yesterday.

The National Geography Bee is a competition designed for fourth to eight graders.

It has three stages, beginning at the school level. Schools that register for the Bee receive materials to hold their competitions. Each school winner takes a written test, and the top scorers in each state and territory compete at the state level.

The winner of each state Bee proceeds to the national competition.

The 55 state and territory winners will meet at National Geographic Society headquarters in Washington, D.C., for the national competition scheduled for May 19-20. The number of contestants is narrowed to 10 finalists, who compete for a $25,000 college scholarship. The second- and third-place winners receive $15,000 and $10,000 scholarships, respectively.