Cranston hosts R.I. National Geographic Bee

Fifty students competed in the annual Rhode Island National Geographic Bee on Saturday at the Scottish Rite Masonic Center, where one Providence student was crowned champion and a Cranston resident finished in the top 10.

Cranston Mayor Allan W. Fung addressed the competitors and their loved ones in the Center’s auditorium prior to the preliminary rounds. Fung said it was an “exciting” opportunity for Cranston to host the Bee for the second straight year.

“I know all of you are going to do extremely well,” Fung said. “You’ve gotten to this great point. We’re very proud of you. We have a wonderful education system [and] this is an important component of it. We wish all of you, the students, much success.”

Rhode Island Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Dr. Ken Wagner was the day’s keynote speaker. Dr. Wagner said that the students at the Bee were just one example of students finding an alternative way to express their “interests, passions, strengths and differences.”

“In education, one of the things I talk about is the idea of pathways through our educational system,” Dr. Wagner said. “Each of you as students are unique. The fact that you are excelling in this event demonstrates your uniqueness. You have a talent and an interest that is different than your peers.

Cranston residents who competed included Sam J. Latzman from Western Hills Middle School, Jayson R. Rocchio from Hugh B. Bain Middle School, Aine R. Dillon from Hope Highlands Middle School, Tyler C. Moran from Park View Middle School and Arianna E. Rodi from St. Mary School. Moran would go on to finish in the top 10 for the competition.

Three groups of students competed in the preliminary rounds of the competition until 10 students were left in the final round. Students in the final round represented schools in Barrington, Newport, Cumberland, Providence, Pawtucket, North Kingstown and Cranston.

During the final round, up until the eighth series of questions, there were still five contestants and the moderator started to run through the 125 questions that were left. After question No. 63, the third-place winner was determined as Michael J. Garman, an eighth-grader from Cluny School in Newport. That left the two final contestants, Neil Panth, a seventh-grader from Gordon School in East Providence and Isaiah Suchman, an eighth-grader from Nathan Bishop Middle School in Providence. Panth and Suchman were asked three questions and whoever answered the most correct would be the champion.

Suchman took the championship and did not answer a single question wrong throughout the whole competition. He received a $100 prize along with a book from National Geographic, a certificate, a globe and entry into the National Geographic Bee national championship.

Amy Ricci, Cranston resident and member of the Steering Committee of the RI Geographic Bee, said that this year’s competition had a larger turnout than usual.

“I think these kids are going to go far,” Ricci said. “Isaiah, he’s amazing. [At one point], I couldn’t believe it - he actually took four seconds.”

Ricci explained that events like this are important because of their educational component, and they promote the ability for kids to have a desire to learn. It’s not only informative for students, but for the audience as well. She said, “it’s amazing what these kids know,” and hopes to see even more students involved in the future.

The national championship will take place from May 14 to May 17 at the National Geographic Headquarters in Washington, D.C. For more information visit www.nationalgeographic.org/bee.