2008BeeResults

2008 INDIANA GEOGRAPHIC BEE

CONGRATULATIONS TO Erik Troske, from Barker Middle School in Michigan City, on winning the Indiana Geographic Bee for the second year in a row! He will represent Indiana at the national-level competition May 20-21 in Washington, D.C.

Erik, with Moderator Chris Wright

2008 TOP TEN FINALISTS

Names left to right: Jacob Kissinger, Benjamin Coomer, Gautam Rangavajla, William Overhauser, Robert Constant, Sage Mitch, Kevin Rex, Adam Dinkledine, Erik Troske, Ariane Bolt

An amazing group of fourteen students answered all eight questions correctly in the preliminary round and had to battle it out in the tie-breaker round for the ten positions in the final round. This was a first for Indiana!

The following students were eliminated in this round:

Sam Wilson-Eastwood Middle School, Indianapolis (7th Grade)

Trevor Owens-Doe Creek Middle School, New Palestine (7th Grade)

Bradley Mason-Washington Junior HS, Washington (8th Grade)

Lucas Smithhart-Wood Memorial Junior HS, Oakland City (7th Grade)

Top Ten Finishers:

1st Place - Erik Troske (8th grade)
    from Barker Middle School, Michigan City
2nd Place - Robert Constant (8th)
    from Northside Middle School, Muncie

3rd Place - Ariane Bolt (8th)

    from St. Joseph County Homeschoolers, South Bend
4th Place - Adam Dinkledine (6th)
    from Tipton Area Christian Home Education, Noblesville

Robert Constant with Chris Wright

Note: The following 2 students exited the

competition during thesame round.

5th Place - William Overhauser (8th)
    from the International School of Indianapolis
6th Place - Jacob Kissinger (7th)
    from Woodrow Wilson Middle School, Terre Haute

7th Place - Kevin Rex (7th grade)

    Sycamore School, Indianapolis

Note: The following 3 students exited the

competition during the same round.
8th Place - Sage Mitch (8th)
    from Northside Middle School, Columbus
9th Place - Gautam Rangavajla (8th)
    from Castle Junior HS, Newburgh
10th Place - Benjamin Coomer (6th)

    from Immanuel Lutheran School, Seymour

Ariane Bolt with Chris Wright

List of all 103 state finalists       Statistics

Welcoming Ceremonies:

Our emcee for the event, Dr. James Speer, Geography Department at Indiana State University, kicked off the days activities. He congratulated the state qualifiers on their achievement. He stressed the connection throughout the education curriculum, and the connections to career opportunities and life-long learning.

Dr. Robert White, Dean of the IUPUI School of Liberal Arts, welcomed participants and guests to campus. He stressed the academic diversity offered by IUPUI and encouraged students to attend once they reach college age. "Through the study of human cultures, of differing economic structures, geo-political systems, history, and sociological structures, our students are uniquely equipped to function in a changing world."

Final Round Moderator:

Chief Meteorologist Chris Wright for WTHR Channel 13, moderated the final round of the Indiana State Finals of the National Geographic Bee. His expertise and humor eased the participants' anxiety enabling them to focus on the questions.

Pictures from the day:

Top two finalists battle it out.
(l-Robert Constant, r-Erik Troske)

Top three finishers (l. to r.-Ariane Bolt, Robert, Erik, )

Preliminary round competition - the qualifiers are divided up into 5 different preliminary round rooms.

Final Round Crowd

The "Participant Board" displays pictures of the students and the distribution around the state.

Behind the scenes...
Photos by Michael Jasiak, IU Media Design and Production

Kathleen Lamb Kozenski-IN Coordinator,

Don Lorentz-IU Media Design and Production

Christ Wright-WTHR Channel 13, Indpls

A view from the final round "hot seats"

Production Crew

Gearing up for the final round

Special thanks to the Lilly Endowment Incorporated and MacAllister Machinery for production funding! The final round of the Indiana Geographic Bee was taped and will be televised around the state via the Indiana Public Broadcasting Stations. Watch your local listings for a mid-May viewing. WFYI in Indianapolis will run the Bee on May 23rd at 3:30pm. Check with your local PBS Stations for additional listings. A DVD will also be available in late April for $14 (includes shipping). Download an order form here.

The Lilly Endowment, Inc.
Education Division
PO Box 88068
2801 North Meridian Street
Indianapolis, IN 46208
www.lillyendowment.org

MacAllister Machinery
Mr. P.E. MacAllister
PO Box 1941
7575 East 30th Street
Indianapolis, IN 46206
www.macallister.com

Knowledge of Geography is key to our ability to survive and compete in today's interconnected world. It helps us to understand events and issues that affect everyone - including environmental problems, our economic well being, and or relations with other nations. We must know Geography if our state and country are to interact efficiently and productively with the world around us.

Each of the top 103 Indiana students received recognition from the National Geographic Society and the Indiana State House.

For additional information, please, contact the Indiana Geographic Bee Coordinator, Kathy Kozenski, at (317) 274-8879.

Welcoming Ceremonies:
	Our emcee for the event, Dr. James Speer, Geography Department at Indiana State University, kicked off the days activities. He congratulated the state qualifiers on their achievement. He stressed the connection throughout the education curriculum, and the connections to career opportunities and life-long learning.
	Dr. Robert White, Dean of the IUPUI School of Liberal Arts, welcomed participants and guests to campus. He stressed the academic diversity offered by IUPUI and encouraged students to attend once they reach college age. "Through the study of human cultures, of differing economic structures, geo-political systems, history, and sociological structures, our students are uniquely equipped to function in a changing world."
Final Round Moderator:
	Chief Meteorologist Chris Wright for WTHR Channel 13, moderated the final round of the Indiana State Finals of the National Geographic Bee. His expertise and humor eased the participants' anxiety enabling them to focus on the questions.
Pictures from the day:
	Top two finalists battle it out. (l-Robert Constant, r-Erik Troske)
	Top three finishers (l. to r.-Ariane Bolt, Robert, Erik, )
	Preliminary round competition - the qualifiers are divided up into 5 different preliminary round rooms.
	Final Round Crowd
	The "Participant Board" displays pictures of the students and the distribution around the state.
Behind the scenes...	Photos by Michael Jasiak, IU Media Design and Production
Kathleen Lamb Kozenski-IN Coordinator, Don Lorentz-IU Media Design and Production Christ Wright-WTHR Channel 13, Indpls A view from the final round "hot seats" Production Crew	Gearing up for the final round