Boy competes in state geography bee

ROADMAP TO SUCCESS-Sam Geldin, 12, heads to Sacramento this week to compete against 100 other California students in the geography bee state finals. Should he succeed, the Medea Creek Middle School 7th grader will head to Washington, D.C. to compete in the nationals. Good luck, Sam! In what city is the California state-level National Geographic Bee held ? The answer is Sacramento.

While this question might have been a brain teaser for some, the answer was obvious to Sam Geldin, a 12-year-old seventh grader at Medea Creek Middle School in Oak Park. Sam will be competing in the geography bee state finals this year.

On March 31, Sam will travel 400 miles from Oak Park to Cosumnes River College in Sacramento, where he will vie with 100 fourth to eighth-graders from all over California for a chance to compete in the national finals, as well as a $100 prize, a National Geographic globe and an all-expenses paid trip to Washington, D.C.

Sam moved up to the state competition after he won his school's geography bee on Jan. 12.

For Sam, the state competition isn't uncharted territory. He took part in the event last year and ended up ranking 19th in the state.

"Sam has been interested in geography since about the age of 6," said Janice Geldin, Sam's mother. "At that age he could name all the states in the order they came into the Union. He memorized all the state capitals, flowers and birds."

Sam constantly refreshes his familiarity with world facts through a stringent study regiment by reviewing atlases, the CIA World Factbook, and various geography websites.

"Preparing for the bee is great fun for Sam," said his mother. "He loves for us to quiz him on his geography knowledge."

If Sam wins the state competition, he will be invited to participate in the national finals in Washington, D.C. on May 23 and 24. At this level, he would compete against children from the various states and U.S. territories, as well as children from the Department of Defense Dependents Schools across the world.

The winner of the National Geographic Bee championship will be awarded a $25,000 college scholarship.

"A sound knowledge of geography is essential for understanding global events and their impact on the rest of the world," said John Fahey, president of the National Geographic Society.

"National Geographic has always recognized the need for geographic literacy and will vigorously continue its efforts to educate our young people and empower them to be informed citizens and responsible stewards of our planet," Fahey.

When Sam isn't perusing maps and atlases, he loves soccer, reading and computer games. Like most children, Sam isn't sure what he wants to do when he grows up, but his short-term goals include winning the bee. "Sam thrives on competition," said his mother. "He remains calm and collected under the pressure. Maybe one day we'll see him on Jeopardy!"