EDUCATION

Kids across Florida take shot at Florida Geographic Bee title at JU

Rhema Thompson
By identifying Portugal in the championship round, 11-year-old Rishi Nair won the contest.

There are many ways to get to Washington, D.C., from Florida, but for one fifth-grader from Plant City, Portugal was the key to the nation's capital and a shot at a $50,000 scholarship.

"Portugal" was Rishi Nair's final answer in the championship round of the Florida Geographic Bee held Friday at Jacksonville University's Terry Concert Hall.

More than 100 fourth- through eighth-grade students from the Panhandle to the Keys put their world of knowledge to the test on JU's campus. It's the 16th year the university has hosted the event.

"It's just a central location for people coming from Pensacola and up from Miami," said JU Geography Professor Ray Oldakowski, who has been overseeing the event for the past 16 years.

Throughout the day, students were quizzed on their knowledge of international events, locations, culture and the world economy for a chance to continue on to the National Geographic Bee in D.C. this May.

This year, five of those competitors hail from the First Coast: Louis Llerandi of St. Michael Academy in Fernandina Beach; Julianne Owen of St. Joseph's Catholic School; Phillip Nacoste of Jacksonville Country Day School; Will Weinbecker of Assumption Catholic School; and Robert Smalls of Providence School.

Smalls, an eighth-grader at Providence School, said his fascination with the world around him began at a very young age.

"I naturally hate not knowing where I am and I find that the world is so unique and different than right here in Jacksonville and I want to learn more."

He said he started a geography club at his school earlier this year to prepare for the statewide bee.

He didn't make it to the final cut Friday, and as an eighth-grader, he won't be eligible to compete in the statewide bee again, but he said he plans to continue coaching other younger students to compete.

Fellow challenger Landry Samuels, of St. Anthony School in San Antonio, Fla., was the sole female to make it to the final round in which 10 finalists contended for the statewide title.

The seventh-grader said she hoped she could inspire more females to compete in the future.

"I wanted to send a message to other girls that they can do anything because I was in three rounds with boys, just plain boys," she said. "...And for females, yes it's hard, but it's going to make us better in the end."

In the end it was Rishi, of Lincoln Magnet School in Plant City, who took the top spot, after nearly an hourlong final round and two tie-breakers.

"I just studied everyday and I put in my best effort...I feel awesome," he said.

As the state's first-place winner, he'll receive $100, an all-expenses paid trip to the national finals in D.C. and a shot at the first-place prize of $50,000 scholarship along with a lifetime subscription to National Geographic magazine, a trip to Galapagos and $500.

The national championship takes place from May 11-13 and will be televised on the National Geographic Channel and NG Wild 8 p.m. May 15.

Rhema Thompson: (904) 359-4693