April 1, 2005
Krishnan Chandra of Andover Wins Massachusetts Geographic Bee
Seventh-grader repeats his 2004 state victory at Clark University
WORCESTER, Mass.-Krishnan Chandra, of Andover, MA, a seventh-grade student at Andover West Middle School, is the state champion of the Massachusetts State Geography Bee. The competition was held Friday, April 1, at Clark University.
Krishnan is the son of Venkat K. Chandra and Prema Ramachandran, of Andover.
Krishnan will participate in the National Geographic Bee in Washington, D.C. on May 24-25 to vie for the National Geographic Bee crown and top prize of a $25,000 college scholarship and lifetime membership in the National Geographic Society. (The second- and third-place winners in the national competition receive a $15,000 and $10,000 scholarship respectively.)
As state champion, Krishnan was awarded a $100 cash prize and a National Geographic World Globe.
Kevin R. Sweeney, an eighth-grade student from Hanson, who attends Hanson Middle School, took second place. Kevin is the son of John and Lisa Sweeney, of Hanson. He received a $75 check and a National Geographic World Globe.
Rachel J. Sandalow-Ash, of Brookline, a sixth-grader at Solomon Schechter Day School, in Newton Center, took third place. Rachel is the daughter of Sander Ash and Sharon Sandalow, of Brookline. She received a check for $50 and a National Geographic World Globe.
The final question of the competition: In November 2004, the United Nations Security Council met in Africa to promote peace in the Darfur region in which country?*
Fourth through eighth-grade students representing dozens of towns and cities in Massachusetts competed in today's state final of the National Geographic Bee. The students had already successfully faced school-level and qualifying competitions. All received T-shirts and certificates for their efforts at today's competition.
Clark University President John Bassett gave the opening address. Dorothy Verheyen, a high school teacher from Quabbin District in Barre, moderated the final round.
The National Geographic Society developed the National Geography Bee in 1989 in response to concern about the lack of geographic knowledge among young people in the United States.
Clark University is a private, co-educational liberal-arts research university with 2,000 undergraduate and 600 graduate students. For over a decade, Clark has been recognized by Rugg's Recommendations on Colleges as the No. 1 institution in the United States for undergraduate study in geography.
Since its founding in 1887 as the first all-graduate school in the United States, Clark has challenged convention with innovative programs such as the International Studies Stream, the Strassler Family Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies and the five-year BA/MA programs with the fifth year tuition-free for eligible students.
* Sudan
Jane Salerno
Assistant Director, Media Relations
Clark University
(508) 793-7554
jsalerno@clarku.edu
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