Rowan to host state final of the 27th annual National Geographic Bee

Competitors representing 114 grade schools will showcase their geography knowledge on Friday, March 27, at Rowan University for the New Jersey state final of the 27th annual National Geographic Bee. 

The preliminary round competition will take place in select classrooms throughout Rowan’s Chamberlain Student Center, 201 Mullica Hill Road, Glassboro, beginning at 10:30 a.m.

The final round begins at approximately 1:30 p.m. in the Enyon Ballroom on the third floor of the student center. Assemblyman Paul Moriarty will moderate the final.

The state champion will receive $100 and an all-expenses-paid trip to represent New Jersey at the National Geographic Bee in May in Washington D.C.

Returning to defend his title is last year’s New Jersey state finalist Charlie Mills, an eighth-grader at Trinity Christian School in Montville. Also competing again is last year’s runner-up, Karan Menon, an eighth-grader at John Adams Middle School in Edison.

More than 30 Rowan students will volunteer their time to help organize the competition, which is hosted by the University’s College of Humanities & Social Sciences.

The following South Jersey students will compete in the National Geographic Bee:

Burlington County

Jonah Miller, seventh grade, William W. Allen Middle School, Moorestown.

Camden County

Nicholas Sandone, eighth grade, Glen Landing Middle School, Blackwood; Sam Tichansky, eighth grade, Haddonfield Middle School, Haddonfield; Sameul Smial, sixth grade, Resurrection Catholic School, Cherry Hill; and Joshua McCauley, eighth grade, Henry C. Beck Middle School, Cherry Hill.

Gloucester County

Philip Keenan, eighth grade, Clearview Regional Middle School, Mullica Hill; Colin Ly, seventh grade, Chestnut Ridge Middle School, Sewell; Justin Michael, eighth grade, Nehaunsey Middle School, Gibbstown; and Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco, seventh grade, Gateway Regional High School, Woodbury.