Published January 22, 2020
By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — Sixth-grader Jacob Book was crowned champion of Lynnfield Middle School’s third annual National Geographic GeoBee competition on Jan. 17.
Book won the GeoBee after defeating seventh-grader Matthew Squadrito during the competition’s championship round. The LMS event served as the first round in the annual National Geographic GeoBee, a nationwide geography competition.
“It feels pretty good,” said Book. “I studied a lot before the competition.”
The GeoBee competition started when preliminary rounds were held in Social Studies classes.
“We take the top three scores from the seventh grade and the eighth grade and the top two scores from the fifth grade and the sixth grade,” said Middle School Assistant Principal Tom Sallee. “Every grade needed a tie-breaker.”
LMS SIXTH-GRADER Jacob Book is congratulated by Middle School Assistant Principal Tom Sallee after winning the National Geographic GeoBee on Jan. 17. (Dan Tomasello Photo)
In addition to Book and Squadrito, fifth-graders Angelo Covino and Coley Walsh, sixth-grader Ian Wagon, seventh-graders Alexander Adreani and Jesse Dorman, and eighth-graders Paul Capodilupo, Maria Chambers and Srivanth Tudi also competed in the GeoBee finals.
The finalists answered a variety of different questions about geography as well as questions about ancient and world civilizations, cultures and physical features.
“Just being up on stage here is a huge accomplishment,” eighth grade Social Studies teacher Michael Wein told the finalists as well as the seventh- and eighth-graders who watched the finals in the auditorium.
English Language Arts/Social Studies Director Kate Robertson concurred with Wein’s viewpoint.
“Each year, the GeoBee empowers millions of students to be curious and knowledgeable global citizens,” said Robertson.
Book also advanced to the finals during last year’s GeoBee competition.
“I competed in the GeoBee last year, so I knew there were a lot of questions about general locations on a map,” he said. “I spent a lot of time studying the biggest mountain ranges and the biggest lakes, and other things like that.”
Book said the older students in the competition didn’t intimidate him.
“I knew I had the same chance as everybody else,” Book said. “I would like to thank my family for the support.”
His parents, Pamela and David Book, attended the competition along with the parents of the other finalists. One of Jacob’s three brothers also watched the competition.
“I am so happy for Jacob,” said Pamela. “This is very exciting.”
David agreed.
“I am very impressed and very proud,” said David.
TEN LMS STUDENTS competed in the National Geographic GeoBee finals on Jan. 17. From left, sixth-grader and school champion Jacob Book, fifth-grader Coley Walsh, fifth-grader Angelo Covino, seventh-grader Alexander Adreani, seventh-grader Jesse Dorman, seventh-grader and finals runner-up Matthew Squadrito, eighth-grader Maria Chambers, eighth-grader Srivanth Tudi and eighth-grader Paul Capodilupo. Missing from photo is sixth-grader Ian Wagon. (Dan Tomasello Photo)
In order to qualify for the Massachusetts GeoBee competition, Book will need to take an online test before Friday, Feb. 7. The top 100 test scorers will be able to advance to the Massachusetts GeoBee, which will be held on Friday, March 27.
Book said geography is his favorite subject. He also enjoys art class and playing in the school band, where he plays trumpet.
“I have been playing the trumpet for two years,” said Book. “I also like to play basketball. I play on a Lynnfield Youth Basketball team.”
Sallee, who brought the GeoBee to LMS three years ago, said he loves the competition because “there is always a surprise.”
“You never know what to expect,” he said.
The National Geographic Society developed the GeoBee in 1989 after the nonprofit organization became concerned about the lack of geographic knowledge among young people in the United States. Over the past three decades more than 120 million students have learned about the world by participating in GeoBee competitions.
According to National Geographic, the winners of each state GeoBee competition will receive an all-expenses paid trip to the national championship this spring. Students who advance to the National GeoBee Finals will be competing for cash prizes, scholarships and an all-expenses paid expedition to the Galápagos Islands aboard the National Geographic Endeavor II.
