Mid Atlantic Division Team Takes 2018 World Geography Bowl Title
The Mid Atlantic Team won first place in the 2018 World Geography Bowl, an annual quiz competition for teams of college-level geography students representing the AAG’s regional divisions. The 2018 event was a milestone, marking the 25th year for hosting the event during the AAG Annual Meeting.
On April 11, while the International Reception was pumping away upstairs, the World Geography Bowl was underway on the third floor of the Sheraton Hotel in New Orleans. Ten teams representing eight of the regional divisions as well as two ad hoc spoiler teams competed in the 9 round preliminary match up. The eight divisions represented were: Mid Atlantic, East Lakes, West Lakes, Southwest, Southeast, Great Plains/Rocky Mountain, New England-St. Lawrence Valley, and Middle States Divisions. The two spoiler teams were aptly named Longitude and Latitude.
The championship round challenged the top two teams from the round-robin preliminaries: Southeast and Mid Atlantic. After a neck and neck round of toss-up questions, Mid Atlantic pulled out the victory in the team question portion of the final. AAG President Derek Alderman was on hand during the final round to serve as the guest judge and grantor of the prize atlases courtesy of National Geographic Society to the winning team.
Most of the students who participate on the regional teams are chosen during their respective regional division Geography Bowl competition held during their regional division annual meeting each fall. All students who participate receive funding from their regional division as well as the AAG in order to help offset the costs of attending the AAG Annual Meeting.
The winning Mid Atlantic Division team’s roster was:
- Matthew Cooper, University of Maryland
- Christine MacKrell, George Washington University
- Brian Slobotsky, University of Maryland
- Zachery Radziewicz, Salisbury University
- Daniel Milbrath, Salisbury University
The first runner-up Southwest Division team’s roster was:
- Jesse Andrews, Appalachian State University
- William Canup, University of North Carolina, Greensboro
- Jacob Cecil, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
- Darby Libka, University of Mary Washington
- Randi Robinson, Mississippi State University
- Jared White, University of West Florida
The second runner-up Great Plains/Rocky Mountain team’s roster was:
- Tristan Boyd, University of Colorado, Denver
- Karl Bauer, Kansas State University
- Sara Newman, University of Colorado, Denver
- Peter Brandt, North Dakota State University
- Lindy Westenhoff, University of Wyoming
- Jonathon Preece, University of Wyoming
- Sujan Parajuli, South Dakota State University
In addition to team prizes, the top individual scorers are also acknowledged. The Most Valuable Player of the 2018 World Geography Bowl was Jesse Andrews from Appalachian State University (SEDAAG) who was presented with an atlas courtesy of Gamma Theta Upsilon.
The remaining top five individual scorers listed in order of points received were:
- Matthew Cooper, University of Maryland Graduate Student (MAD)
- Kate Rigot, University of Colorado, Denver Graduate Student (Team Latitude)
- Deondre Smiles, Ohio State University Graduate Student (East Lakes)
- Tristan Boyd, University of Colorado, Denver Undergraduate Student (Great Plains/Rocky Mountain)
Thanks to the 2018 WGB prize donors and volunteers
Organizers of the World Geography Bowl would like to express thanks to the countless volunteer question writers, team sponsors/coaches, moderators, judges, and scorekeepers who make the competition possible, and to the many students who competed across the country. We would like to recognize the volunteers this year as: Paul McDaniel (Kennesaw State University), Wesley Reisser (US Department of State & George Washington University), Rob Edsall (Idaho State University), Dawn Drake (Missouri Western State University), Richard Deal (Edinboro University of Pennsylvania), Zia Salim (California State University at Fullerton), Ronnie Schumann (University of North Texas), Liz Lowe (GIS Technician, New Orleans City Park), Jim Baker (University of Nebraska-Omaha) Patrick May (Plymouth State University), Jase Bernhardt (Hofstra University), Mel Johnson (University of Wisconsin-Manitowoc), Olumide Olufowobi (University of Lagos), Megan Heckert (West Chester University), Tom Bell (University of Tennessee) Peggy Gripshover (Western Kentucky University), Amber Williams (West Virginia University), Lee Ann Nolan (Pennsylvania State University), Jeff Neff (Western Carolina University), Casey Allen (University of Colorado, Denver).
World Geography Bowl organizers thank its supporters, who generously donated atlases, books, gift certificates, software, plaques, and clothing – Texas State University, National Geographic Society, Pearson, Gamma Theta Upsilon, University of Georgia Press, Clark Labs, Esri, Guilford Press, Syracuse University Press, Penguin Random House, American Geosciences Institution, and Expedia – who recognize the important role the competition plays in building a sense of community and generating excitement around geographic learning. Your continued support is truly appreciated.
A special thank you goes out to the World Geography Bowl executive director, Jamison Conley (West Virginia University) for his volunteer efforts at organizing the bowl since 2015.
2019 World Geography Bowl – Washington, D.C.
The 2019 World Geography Bowl competition will be held in Washington, D.C. in April 2019. Regional competition typically occur during the fall at respective AAG regional meetings, where regional teams for the national competition are usually formed. For more information on organizing a team or volunteering at the national event, contact the World Geography Bowl executive director, Jamison Conley at West Virginia University at Jamison [dot] Conley [at] mail [dot] wvu [dot] edu or the AAG Geography Bowl coordinator, Emily Fekete at efekete [at] aag [dot] org. To learn more about the 2019 World Geography Bowl, follow updates posted here.
In addition, a photo album of the event will be shared soon.
