OLG Student Competing in State Geography Bee

Jordan Callahan’s favorite program on television is “The Amazing Race” because he is fascinated by the interesting places the players on the show travel to each week.

But after the show is over, the eighth-grader atdelves into the locations he’s just seen on television to learn more about new places across the globe.

So it was no surprise that Jordan, who is 14 and lives in Scott Township, bested the more than 100 OLG students who participated in the school’s annual geography bee. He later finished high enough in a second-round test that was “kinda easy” to qualify for the statewide geography bee at Penn State University. That round will include 100 competitors from across the state on March 30.

“I think it’s cool to look at different countries and learn how they were formed,” Jordan said about his interest of geography.

He’s now preparing for that statewide competition in hopes of being the winner that will represent Pennsylvania in the National Geography Bee in Washington D.C.

“You have to be really interested and want to learn a lot about geography to get to D.C.,” Jordan said. “And I’m really interested in that.

His social studies teacher, Angie Stokes, is helping him prepare for the statewide round and hoping he makes it to the national competition. She said he relates well to geography and makes many connections to world events.

“Jordan always enjoys the things he does,” Stokes said. “He makes it’s less of a task and more of a hobby.”

Jordan, who will attend Central Catholic High School next year, isn’t sure what career he wants to pursue, but he knows it will somehow involve traveling. He said he’s especially interested in going to Central Catholic for its global studies, mission trips and focus on international studies.

He hopes to travel one day to Italy, Japan and other far away places. Jordan even ponders one day appearing on “The Amazing Race” to get a chance to see the world.

“You never know where it will take you,” he said.

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