Thursday, March 27, 1997
Geography students buzz down to state bee
By LESLIE STRADER
Staff Writer
A group of Abilene students swarming to the state Geography
Bee competition next week are sure to create a buzz among the
other admitted Atlas hounds.
John Doney, Jeff Doney and Hyung Lee will be making repeat
performances in Fort Worth April 4 - each one for the third year
in a row. And Laurie Wood, a newcomer to the group, is the only
girl in memory from AISD to ever make the trip.
A fifth Abilene student, Geoff Heaven, a Wylie Junior High
seventh-grader, is also competing in the state contest.
"We are thrilled, thrilled, thrilled," said Superintendent
Charles Hundley at a press conference announcing the AISD qualifiers.
"I would almost guarantee this is probably the largest number
of students of any school district in Texas. I would bet my hat
that if you called Houston ISD or San Antonio ISD they do not
have as many as four finalists."
The National Geographic Society has hosted the national bees
since 1989. Fourth- through eighth-graders participate in the
state level oral contest each year after winning their school
bees and earning a top score on a written exam.
From the public and private schools participating across Texas,
only 100 students ultimately converge to compete in the state
contest. The Texas winner will compete at the national level for
a chance at a $25,000 scholarship.
In AISD, nearly 4,000 students out of the nearly 20,000 enrolled
participated at some point in the geography bee. Hundley said
he's pleased thatnumber has grown.
John Doney, Madison Middle School eighth-grader, not only qualified
for the state bee the last three years, he has also won the citywide
Geography Bee three times in a row.
And, last year, he earned fourth place in the state.
"Hopefully I can win finally, because that's been my goal
for three years," John said. "It's still hard work but
it's become easier for me to excel in the competition now because
of my experience."
His brother Jeff, a seventh-grader at Clack Middle School,
said he wasn't surprised he advanced to state again. He started
participating in the bee in fifth-grade, and that year, earned
third place in state, rare for a younger competitor.
"I'm not trying to brag, but I was kind of expecting it,"
he said. "I hope I get past the preliminary (round), because
once you get on stage you feel relaxed and ready to go. I hope
I don't just get the hard (questions) and everybody else gets
the easy ones."
Though they live under the same roof, John and Jeff attend
separate schools through a special provision, Hundley said. National
Geographic will not allow more than one student from the same
school to compete in the program.
Because they they attend different schools, they each have
a chance to advance as far as they can.
The boys' father, John, Sr., said studying is a family affair.
"We go over every single piece of information we can find,"
he said. "We're happy they got into the finals when they
did. They've had a taste of what it could be like and they're
ready."
Lee, an eighth-grader from Franklin Middle School, has never
made it to the top 10, but he said, with his past experience,
he feels like this is his year.
"That's going to help a lot because I'm not so nervous
and I've gotten used to it," he said. "You're never
prepared; there's too much to learn. But I've got my strategy
and I know John and Jeff have the same strategy. We've all learned
how to deal with it."
Hundley said Wood, a Lincoln Middle School sixth-grader, is
an unique contestant for two reasons - her age and her gender.
She is one of only 15 girls who will be in Fort Worth next week.
Wood, who came to AISD this year from Abilene Christian Elementary,
said she's ready to represent not only AISD but female geographers
as well.
"It kind of sets you apart from everybody else,"
she said. "I plan to do my best. I don't have any expectations
except not to miss a question I know I should know."
And, for the first time since 1994, Wylie ISD will be represented
at the state level. Wylie Junior High seventh-grader Geoff Heaven
said he's never participated in the bee before and was surprised
he qualified for state.
"I was shocked because I didn't really think I had a chance,"
he said. "If I didn't have to take (the qualifying test)
in my history class, I don't think I would have. I didn't think
I was good at geography. I know my way around but I didn't think
I was that great."
The Abilene and Wylie students will go to Fort Worth next Friday.
The competition begins at 9:30 a.m. on the Texas Christian University
campus.
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Abilene Reporter-News / Texnews / E.W. Scripps Publications
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