Each year, thousands of schools in the United States participate in the National Geographic Bee using materials prepared by the National Geographic Society. Vanessa Torres, a student in the fifth grade at Sacred Heart Greenwich, was selected as the school champion and is advancing to the next level, the Connecticut State Bee on April 1.
To achieve this recognition, Vanessa entered into a contest against finalists at Sacred Heart’s Middle School and emerged as the winner. She then passed the state bee’s qualifying test.
The following eight students competed in elimination rounds before Middle School assemblies: fifth grade – Kasey Calacci & Vanessa Torres, sixth grade – Libby Kaseta & Charlotte Marvin, seventh grade – Belle Broll & Ellie Skinner, eighth grade – Christine Plaster & Daniella Tocco.
“The finals with the eight students were quite competitive,” said history teacher Samantha McCoy, who coordinated the Bee. Sixth-grader Libby Kaseta finished in second place. Libby and Vanessa competed on a series of tiebreaker questions before Vanessa won by correctly answering the following question: “Africa’s most industrialized country is bordered by both the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Name this country. Answer: South Africa.”
To qualify for the state competition on April 1, Vanessa took a test designed by the National Geographic Society. She was recently notified that she had passed the test and was selected as a contestant for the Connecticut Bee.
One champion from each state and territory will advance to the national competition, which will be held May 22-25 at the National Geographic Society headquarters in Washington, D.C.
