White Plains Resident to Compete in State Geography Bee

White Plains resident Isabella Iannone will show off her geography skills at the New York State National Geographic Geography Bee. 

"I think it will be challenging, but also really fun," said the sixth grader, who attends School of the Holy Child in Rye. “I’m very excited.”

Iannone will compete against students around the state on March 30 at the New York State Museum in Albany. The winner of the Geography Bee will go on to represent New York in the national finals at the National Geography Society headquarters in Washington D.C. in May for a chance to win a $25,000 scholarship, lifetime membership to the society and a trip to the Galapagos Islands.

The state winner will receive $100, the “Complete National Geographic on DVD,” and a trip to Washington, D.C. where he/she will represent New York State in the national finals at the National Geographic Society headquarters, May 22-24. The first-place national winner will receive a $25,000 college scholarship, a lifetime membership in the Society and a trip to the Galapagos Islands to experience geography firsthand.

Iannone had to first win a geography at her school between students in fourth through eighth grade. The school-level winners were given a qualifying test and those with the top 100 scores were invited to compete at the state level.

“We practice together every day after school,” said Janet Baker, a Holy Child social studies and language arts teacher who is helping Isabella prepare for the contest. “We review sample questions, world countries and capitals, as well as geographic terms and facts.”

Baker said Iannone is well prepared and is looking forward to representing Holy Child and White Plains in the Geography Bee. 

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