Congratulations to East-Northport Middle School student Matthew Munson who recently qualified to compete in the National Geographic State GeoBee on March 27 at the New York State Museum in Albany.
The GeoBee includes three levels of competition: school, state and national. For the second year in a row, Matthew surpassed his peers to earn the title of school champion. However, this will be his first year competing in Albany as one of the top 100 ranked students in each state. Students are selected based on their scores on an online qualifying test. State champions are then invited to compete in the national championship in Washington D.C. in May.
Matthew has been studying geography since first grade when he visited Barnes and Noble with his father and was intrigued by a bucket of world maps. Although there is not a geography club at the middle school, he said that he would be open to starting one should there be enough student interest. In the meantime, Matthew is a member of the student council, environmental action team and will play Lurch in the school’s production of The Addams Family March 19-21.
The school’s geography bee coordinator, Chris Rozmus, explained that Matthew beat out some tough competition this year, competing against sixth and eighth graders, to be crowned the school champion with a perfect score. “We wish him luck as he moves on to the next round in Albany,” Mr. Rozmus said. “I also look forward to seeing him compete next year as an eighth grader.”