Local students take top honors at S.C. Geographic Bee

The top three finishers Alen Simmons, Matthew White, and Luke Porter, stand with Plum Creek sponsor- representative John Barlow. At the 20th Annual South Carolina Geographic Bee on April 3, Luke Porter, an eighth- grade homeschooled student from Columbia, became the 2009 state champion after correctly answering the question "Florence Nightingale, who is recognized as the founder of modern nursing, reduced death rates dramatically during which war that shares its name with the Ukrainian peninsula?" The answer — the "Crimean War."

Alen Simmons, an eighth- grader of Greenville representing Shannon Forest Christian School, placed second. Matthew White, a fifth- grader of Columbia from Forest Lake Elementary, placed third. They were among 100 fourth - eighth grade students who won their school bees and then placed in the top 100 on the state's written exam, qualifying them for the state competition.

The bee, held at the South Carolina State Museum, was sponsored by the National Geographic Society, Google, and Plum Creek, a large timberland foundation and the largest and most geographically diverse private landowner in the U.S.

After the preliminary rounds, 10 finalists underwent the rigors of the final round. Then Porter and Simmons faced off in the championship round. Using a map of natural resources and Google Earth aerial pictures of bridges as well as completing analogies, students were challenged with questions like the following:

Which Asian country, known as the land of the morning calm, is one of the wealthiest in Asia? (South Korea)

Sable Island, a low sandy island located along the western edge of the Gulf Stream, are part of which Canadian maritime province? (Nova Scotia)

Most students admitted to being nervous. Simmons said, "Sometimes answers take awhile to come to you. Otherwise, it's like taking a test. I just took a deep breath before each round."

Merit Justice, the state bee coordinator, explained the importance of geography, "The world is so incredibly changing with technology these days, and American adults are painfully ignorant of geography, so we want to help the next generation so they will grow up to be geographically literate."

Porter will represent South Carolina at the National Geographic Bee in May in Washington, D.C. He explained that his method for success involved practicing daily. Many students indicated that geography comes naturally to them. Porter said, "I just like geography and looking at maps. And I like history, too, and they go along well together."

National Geographic provided each of the top three finishers with a certificate of accomplishment, a school award, an atlas, and a check for $100, $75, and $50, respectively. The organization will also provide an expenses- paid trip for Porter and his teacher to attend the national championship.

Plum Creek also awarded each of the three finalists an adventure kit and will sponsor flights for two chaperones to accompany Porter. The Plum Creek Foundation manages thousands of acres in South Carolina for forestry, conservation, and wildlife habitat. The state manager for Plum Creek, John Barlow, described the foundation's reason for backing the event: "We think that geography is important, and we enjoy seeing the kids and supporting them and their efforts."

At the national level, South Carolina has not had a first place winner since David Beihl in 1999. James Bryan, an assistant and the official scorekeeper, charged Porter to be the next winner: "We want another national winner, so it's your turn!"