What’s it take to be a GeoBee Champion? GeoBee Champs come from all over America; big families and small; private school and public. What makes them champs is something inside: curiosity about the world around them, willingness to study and prepare, and a true love of geography. Take a look at these former champions: See what music they like; what they do in their free time. Hear how they prepared for the Bee and see what study tips they have for you!

Daniel Metzger - 2006 South Carolina State Champion

• Secret Talent: I love political and moral philosophy, the philosophy of economics, and ethics. My hidden talent is architecture; I have a knack for designing imaginative spaces.

• Study Tip: Study hard and dedicate yourself to the competition. More importantly though, enjoy it and don't stress, because if you don't, you won't do as well. If geography is "your thing," like it was mine, go for it. But approach life in a holistic manner, take in every experience and see what it is you enjoy: discover your talents. Pursue any interest to see if it's your best one, no matter what it is. I was always told, go where the money is, but I say go where your passion is. Passion is the key to happiness!

• Hobbies: In my free time (there isn't much at college!), I design buildings. It's an excellent stress release because it relaxes me better than anything else.

Questions and Answers

• What do you like most about geography? I love geography because it was the only way I was able to "travel" the world in middle and high school. I come from a lower-income family, so the only way I could tour Indonesia, for example, was open up a book or two and learn everything I could. I have always loved geography!

• Have you lived in different geographic locations? I've lived in three cities and two towns in three states (Florida, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina). As far as traveling, I honestly and unfortunately have not had the opportunity to travel much. I've been to Canada, New York City, and Key West, but I plan on quite a bit of travel in the near future, including Seoul, Tokyo, and grad school abroad, possibly in Hong Kong or Vancouver!

• Where would you most like to visit in the world? I want to tour Asia, so Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tokyo, Manila, Hanoi, and Seoul top my list of cities. In the Spring of 2010 I'm going to be studying Asian philosophy in Seoul for a few months.

• Why do you think it's important to study geography? Geography is an essential subject for the well educated man or woman. I once saw a statistic that said that 75% of Americans couldn't find Afghanistan or Iraq on a map, yet recently, we have been involved in conflicts in both countries. Too many of my friends talk about ending the genocide in Darfur, but they balk when I ask if they would please show me this locale on the map (It's in the Sudan). It would be a pity to board the wrong plane and think, as one woman did, "Oh well, Beijing is close to Berlin, right? I can just take a train there." Though I doubt she took a train to Berlin, her ignorance of geography cost her a great deal of time and money. Geography is much more than rivers, capitals, exports, and mountain ranges. It's also peoples, religion, traditions, food, systems of currency, politics, and language. These things part of a larger concept known as culture.

• How did you prepare for the National Geographic Bee? To prepare for the Bee, I made a trip to the local bookstore and made a purchase of National Geographic Atlases that probably increased the value of Barnes and Noble stock by a point or two. The National Geographic Desk Reference was particularly helpful for the National Level competition. When I began competing in the AAA Travel Challenge in high school, I designed my own curriculum for a geography course, for which I received academic credit at my school.

• Did anyone help you prepare for the Bee? I studied on my own for the Bee.

• Were you nervous while competing? I was very nervous during the final ten face-off at the state competition, as well as at all levels of the national level. I prayed a lot, tried to get a good night's sleep, read psalms, and most of all: I did not study during the competition. That is the absolute worse thing a person can do, because studies have shown that cramming does not help a person learn anything knew, but it raises stress hormone levels because people discover things that they don't know.

• Did you meet any cool kids while participating in the Bee? I did meet some interesting people at the Bee, some of which I am friends with on Facebook. Most of all, I just loved going to competition and getting to travel in Washington, DC.

• What was your final question? Were you sure of the answer, pretty sure, or was it a wild guess? If I had to take a wild guess, I would say that my winning question for the state level had something to do with Jakarta, Indonesia.

• Do you have any advice for kids who are preparing to enter this year's GeoBee? Study hard and dedicate yourself to the competition. More importantly though, enjoy it and don't stress, because if you don't, you won't do as well. If geography is "your thing," like it was mine, go for it. But approach life in a holistic manner, take in every experience and see what it is you enjoy: discover your talents. Pursue any interest to see if it's your best one, no matter what it is. I was always told, go where the money is, but I say go where your passion is. Passion is the key to happiness!

Caleb Olson - 2008 Iowa State Champion

• Secret Talent: Spelling and Math

• Study Tip: Study, Study, Study. Don't get nervous. Work on physical geography, it's tough. Have fun. Believe in yourself, just think a year from now you could be just like me, answering a survey on your experience at Nationals.

• Hobbies: Watch T.V., play soccer, get on the computer, listen to music

Questions and Answers

• What do you like most about geography? I enjoy looking at maps and have always liked it.

• Have you lived in different geographic locations? No, just on home. I have traveled to over 30 states and to Canada.

• Where would you most like to visit in the world? Australia, I think it would be an amazing experience to understand another culture in another part of the world.

• Why do you think it's important to study geography? It's important to know about the world around and what's happening that can affect directly or indirectly.

• How did you prepare for the National Geographic Bee? I didn't really prepare that much considering I'd won it before. I looked over all of my books, including new ones, and concentrated on physical geography.

• Did anyone help you prepare for the Bee? No.

• Were you nervous while competing? I was extremely nervous at the Finals of State and the Prelims at Nationals. Answering the first question correctly helped soothe me and make me think that I could do it.

• What was your final question? Were you sure of the answer, pretty sure, or was it a wild guess? At the school level it was: "Fifty-five countries signed a treaty in 1959 to dedicate this continent to scientific research. Name this Continent." Ans.:Antarctica and I was 100% sure of the answer. My State level question was: "Beautiful beaches, museums, and landmarks of the Sham culture make Da Nang a popular tourist city. Name this long, narrow country where Da Nang is located." Ans:Vietnam and I was pretty sure of the answer.

• Do you have any advice for kids who are preparing to enter this year's GeoBee? Study, Study, Study. Don't get nervous. Work on physical geography, it's tough. Have fun. Believe in yourself, just think a year from now you could be just like me, answering a survey on your experience at Nationals

Jose Antonio

• Secret Talent: I am great at piano. I am also a good debater.

• Study Tip: Study. Study. Study. Help control your nerves. Try to think of geography in moments like when you are in the shower, when you are falling asleep, or when you do not have anything to do.

• Hobbies: I like to do all kinds of things. I do computer things. I enjoy running, visiting friends, and many different things.

Questions and Answers

• What do you like most about geography? I love knowing about the world. I have enjoyed geography since I was 7.

• Where would you most like to visit in the world? I would like to go to Israel. I would like to see Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and Eilat. I want to go skiing at Mt. Carmel. I want to enjoy Israel's perfect climate.

• Why do you think it's important to study geography? Because I think it is important for people to know about the world. I think people need to know the countries. I have found out that most Americans cannot find America on a blank map. That is a shame and it needs to be fixed.

• How did you prepare for the National Geographic Bee? I just studied everything I needed to know. I studied my world capitals, I studied all the borders, mountain chains, rivers, islands, culture, and kept up with the news.

• Did anyone help you prepare for the Bee? My friend Alek and I studied together.

• Were you nervous while competing? Yes. I was nervous especially in the 8th grade because it was my last year. I prayed about it and I calmed down.

• What was your final question? Were you sure of the answer, pretty sure, or was it a wild guess? My winning state bee answer at state in 8th grade was: Diredawa is a town that was recently flooded by the Dechatau river. Diredawa is a town in which country on the Horn of Africa. Answer: Ethiopia. I knew that one.

• Do you have any advice for kids who are preparing to enter this year's GeoBee? Study. Study. Study. Help control your nerves. Try to think of geography in moments like when you are in the shower, when you are falling asleep, or when you do not have anything to do.

Erik B - 2001 & 2002 Indiana State Champion

• Secret Talent: It's not entirely different from geography, but I have a skill at learning the basics of a foreign language quickly and using it to be a savvy traveler.

• Study Tip: Study hard. Know physical geography especially in addition to the basic vital stats of every country.

• Hobbies: Outline geographical and historical-related suspense novels that I plan to write someday.

Questions and Answers

• What do you like most about geography? Geography appeals to me because in order to understand another culture, it is necessary to learn about the multilayered factors that have made a country what it is. Yes, I have been interested in geography from a very young age due to having visited several regions of North America and becoming curious about the effect of where someone lives on how they live.

• Where would you most like to visit in the world? Mongolia, because of the traditional ways of live that are still preserved there. Afghanistan if and when it ever becomes safe for civilian travel, because of the rich mixture of Persian/Indian/Chinese/Hellenistic/Mongol cultures that have shaped this crossroads country.

• Why do you think it's important to study geography? Understanding geography is essential to responsible citizenship in the integrated global world that we live in today. Peace and international cooperation depend on our awareness of other cultures and countries - not just their name and capital, but also their values, attitudes, histories, and cultural minds. Every nation in the world has something valuable to offer; to take advantage of what makes that culture precious, we need to also understand what historical and geographical forces make it unique.

• How did you prepare for the National Geographic Bee? National Geographic has several products designed for study, and I took advantage of everything that they provided at the time.

• Did anyone help you prepare for the Bee? No.

• Were you nervous while competing? Definitely yes. What worked, if anything, was simply to get asked a question in the competition and have no choice but to focus.

• What was your final question? Were you sure of the answer, pretty sure, or was it a wild guess? 2002 State Bee: What river forms the border between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan? Amu Darya. Knew it cold.

• Do you have any advice for kids who are preparing to enter this year's GeoBee? Study hard. Know physical geography especially in addition to the basic vital stats of every country.

Aaron Linderman - 1997 and 1998 Arizona State Bee Champion

• Secret Talent: I sometimes act as emcee for coffee house events and I quite enjoy baking. And lawn sports.

• Study Tip: Memorize the country capitals! This will help in over 1/3 of the questions!

• Hobbies: As a graduate student in history, I don't have a lot of free time. But I enjoy reading the poetry of T. S. Eliot, W. H. Auden and Gerard Manley Hopkins. I also like playing Scrabble, visiting art galleries and hiking.

Questions and Answers

• What do you like most about geography? Geography came naturally to me. I was always interested in distant places and in traveling, maybe because of the slides my father use to show of his time in the US Navy and his travels across the Pacific. I think I like the same thing about geography that I like about history (which I now study in graduate school): it's something different from our own surroundings. There's an old saying that a man who has lived in many villages is not taken in by local superstitions. So too, I think the study of other places gives us a better understanding not only of those places, but also of ourselves.

• Where would you most like to visit in the world? In the summer of 2007 I was able to visit Lebanon, Syria and Jordan. It was a fantastic trip. However, due to political difficulties, I could not go to Jerusalem. Some day I'd like to visit the city, sacred to three major world religions.

• Why do you think it's important to study geography? As a historian, I am constantly dealing with geographic issues: one group of people comes into conflict with another because they are next to each other; a particular kind of culture develops because of local climate conditions; those communities with access to waterways experience trade and economic growth. Geography shapes the way that we live our lives and creates both limitations and opportunities for human interaction.

• How did you prepare for the National Geographic Bee? I studied for geography bees in a variety of ways: I read National Geographic and National Geographic World. I played geography games, both board games and on the computer. I looked at maps and read atlases. And any time I came across a place name or a term I didn't know, I wrote it down, looked it up, and reviewed it again later.

• Did anyone help you prepare for the Bee? My father was incredibly helpful in my studies. He and I would go back and forth, quizzing each other with questions from Trivial Pursuit or geography board games. He would draw blank maps of continents and quiz me on which country was which. And he shared my love of geography, sharing tidbits, listening to my stories and bringing home any stray magazine he could find.

• Were you nervous while competing? Of course I was nervous. I was nervous most of the time. Though experience helped. And confidence, the confidence that comes from knowing that you've studied hard and you're ready to go. Of course there are the usual tricks for calming your nerves, like taking deep breaths and breathing slowly. Finally, it's important to remember that there's always next year and it's always fun, no matter how far you go. If you can sit back and enjoy it, you'll not only have more fun, but you'll also be more relaxed and do better in the competition.

• Did your GeoBee experience affect your college decisions? The Geography Bee definitely fueled my interest in geography, in maps and in foreign travel. I did my undergraduate studies out of state (including a semester in Rome and part of a summer in Germany) and moved again for my MA and again for my PhD. That love of geography has also led me to travel to a number of foreign countries. And the Geography Bee definitely left me with a hefty pile of maps, atlases and other books. A decade later, my walls are still hung with those maps.

• What was your final question? Were you sure of the answer, pretty sure, or was it a wild guess? I won my first State Bee on a question about a major city in Lybia; I knew it had to be Tripoli or Benghazi and I was pretty sure it was Tripoli. But almost every answer at a geography bee is an educated guess, not a memorized answer; the questions are worded to provide a series of clues and you have to narrow in on the best answer, given that information.

• Do you have any advice for kids who are preparing to enter this year's GeoBee? Study hard and have fun. The Geography Bee was a great opportunity for me and I'm very glad I took it. So dive in; you won't regret it.

Neeraj Sirdeshmukh - 2006 National GeoBee Second Place, 2006 New Hampshire State Champion

• Secret Talent: Playing chess

• Study Tip: Study regularly and test yourself with trivia questions!

• Hobbies: I like to watch a movie or TV, listen to Hindi (Indian) songs, play games, play sports, etc. My favorite book is Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. My favorite movie is The Terminal.

Questions and Answers

• What do you like most about geography? I am intrigued by foreign places and cultures. What is life like in Rwanda? or Slovenia? or Tajikistan? It fascinates me to a maximum extent. I discovered my aptitude in geography in 8th grade, the first time I tried and achieved 2nd place in the Bee. It was one of the most successful achievements of my life.

• Have you lived in different geographic locations? I have lived in India and the United States. In the US, I lived in California and New Hampshire. I have traveled a lot in the US, Canada, and India.

• Where would you most like to visit in the world? I would like to visit Australia the most. Australia is rarely in the news very often; it has intrigued me a lot. It has many different biomes, attractions, and the Aborigine culture which I would love to know more about. Also, Sydney and Melbourne are world-class cosmopolitan cities.

• Why do you think it's important to study geography? Geography is critical to understanding the patterns that shape the Earth. Why do humans migrate? Why do they observe different traditions and follow different religions? How does the land affect the people it supports? All these questions can be answered with knowledge of geography. I think that in today's highly globalized world, it is of tremendous importance that geography be taught in schools as a separate subject.

• How did you prepare for the National Geographic Bee? I used to study for 2 hours every weekday and 10 hours on weekends. The most important thing is to study regularly. I took a lot of notes and read many different geography encyclopedias and books to prepare. I watched and listened to global news everyday and used to visit BBC News. I created a BIG chart of all the countries of the world, and information relating to their history, economy, tourist attractions, physical features, political divisions, and cultures.

• Did anyone help you prepare for the Bee? My mom and brother used to quiz me everyday with about 50 questions. Eventually, my mom asked me thousands of questions.

• Were you nervous while competing? No. I was confident and determined to win.

• Did you meet any cool kids while participating in the Bee? In the finals, I met Bonny, who was the First Place Winner. The final round was the most memorable event in the entire competition.

• What was your final question? Were you sure of the answer, pretty sure, or was it a wild guess? For the New Hampshire State Championship, the final question was: "Which is the only African country that borders the Gulf of Sidra?" Answer: Libya. For the National Championship, the question was: "Name the mountains that extend across much of Wales, from the Irish Sea to the Bristol Channel." Answer: Cambrian Mountains. I could not remember the answer at that time, but I had read it before during my studies.

• Do you have any advice for kids who are preparing to enter this year's GeoBee? Study regularly, quiz yourself with trivia questions...GOOD LUCK!!!

Rachel McEnroe - 2007 New Jersey State Champion

• Secret Talent: I am learning to speak 8 languages: Latin, Arabic, Russian, Chinese, Dutch, Vietnamese, Ukrainian, and Farsi!

• Study Tip: Memorize the country capitals! This will help in over 1/3 of the questions!

• Hobbies: I love to learn foreign languages. I have been studying Latin for 4 years and I am preparing for the A.P. exam in the 10th grade. I have also been studying Arabic and Russian for a year and a half and have also gone to Chinese camp for 2 summers. On my own, I am starting to learn Vietnamese, Dutch and Ukrainian and will be learning Farsi in January!

Questions and Answers

• What do you like most about geography? I like EVERYTHING about geography! I read the National Geographic magazine cover-to-cover the day it arrives. I study the cities, cultures and languages of various regions - especially the Middle East and Africa. I have always had an interest in geography. I used to memorize all the country flags when I was in kindergarten - my father used to put a different flag flashcard in my lunchbox every day. I was obsessed with my first atlas around 3 or 4.

• Where would you most like to visit in the world? I would like to visit England, China, Russia, and Qatar (my winning question was the capital of Qatar).

• Why do you think it's important to study geography? It is important to know about the world around you - all the different places have their own languages, cultures and customs.

• How did you prepare for the National Geographic Bee? At first I memorized all of the different capitals of the countries in the world. Then, I studied from several books and atlases - especially the book Afghanistan to Zimbabwe and the National Geographic Atlas (8th Edition). I also studied the National Geographic magazines.

• Did you have any good luck charms or superstitions while at the Bee? Not really. My mom made me a pillow case for the state bee and another for the national bee. The pillow case was signed by my whole family and also had cartoons of my guinea pigs.

• Were you nervous while competing? I was not nervous. However, my mom was squeezing a stuffed animal 'bee' during the competition.

• Did you meet any cool kids while participating in the Bee? My roommate was Caitlyn, who turned out to be the winner of the Bee and only the 2nd girl to ever win. I was the first girl to win for the state of New Jersey and there has not been another girl since. I enjoyed meeting different people who thought staring at maps for fun was not unusual.

• What was your final question? Were you sure of the answer, pretty sure, or was it a wild guess? My winning question was: What city, which has a deep water port and is an economic center, is also the capital of Qatar? Answer: Doha. I was positive of my answer.

• Do you have any advice for kids who are preparing to enter this year's GeoBee? Most importantly - memorize the country capitals - it will help in over 1/3 of the questions!!!

Jamie Ding - 2005 Michigan State Champion

• Secret Talent: I went to the National MATHCOUNTS competition and National Spelling Bee while competing in the National Geographic Bee. I also play piano, cello, quiz bowl, and I can make phenomenal paper airplanes.

• Study Tip: Have fun and be proud that you're learning about the world. Try to get your friends and other classmates involved, and enjoy participating no matter how far you get in competition.

• Hobbies: I like to watch a movie or TV, listen to music and play the piano and cello.

Questions and Answers

• What do you like most about geography? I like geography because I'm interested in the diversity of our planet and all its people. I also enjoy it for teaching me about such beautiful and intriguing places that this world has to offer. I wasn't always seriously into geography, but I have always enjoyed looking at maps.

• Have you lived in different geographic locations? I have lived in Australia, Tennessee, and Michigan, and I travel a lot. I've been to Australia, China, Japan, the Philippines, several locations in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the UK, France, Germany, and Austria.

• Where would you most like to visit in the world? Moscow, Russia. I want to see Red Square and the remaining relics of the Soviet Union.

• Why do you think it's important to study geography? Knowledge is a beautiful thing. One of the most important things is to know yourself, and I think that "yourself" includes the whole planet. Without people learning about other countries and the rest of the world, our worldview will become constricted and unrealistic, which is unacceptable in modern globalized society.

• How did you prepare for the National Geographic Bee? I read geography books over and over, focusing on atlases, country profiles, and geography trivia. Memorizing lists does not help much. Always try to have fun while you're studying. I made sure that I memorized currencies and capitals; those are crucial.

• Did anyone help you prepare for the Bee? No, but you may find that helpful.

• Were you nervous while competing? I was slightly nervous at each point, but I always thought "You've made it this far. Just do the best you can and enjoy yourself."

• Did you meet any cool kids while participating in the Bee? I met several cool kids that I am still in contact with. We discuss current events and politics, mostly. The most memorable part of my experience was simply being in Washington, D.C. I think that it's one of the best cities on Earth.

• What was your final question? Were you sure of the answer, pretty sure, or was it a wild guess? For 8th grade at the state level, the final question involved the Yalu River and asked which country shared it as a border with China. Now China is the most-bordered country on Earth, but I knew that the Yalu wasn't in the south. Since I knew that Mongolia and the former Soviet Republics do not have much in the way of water, I settled for North Korea. I wasn't absolutely sure of the answer, but it made sense to me, and since I'm writing this, you probably know if I was right or not.

• Do you have any advice for kids who are preparing to enter this year's GeoBee? Have fun and be proud that you're learning about the world. Try to get your friends and other classmates involved, and enjoy participating no matter how far you get in competition.