Hamilton Central School District sixth-grader Emilia Goeller is heading to the state level competition of the National Geographic Bee next month after earning a first-place finish in her school geography bee.
The National Geographic Bee is a highly-competitive national geography contest for students in fourth through eighth grade. School champions are asked to take an online qualifying test, and each state can invite up to 100 of its top-scoring students to compete at the state level. This year’s New York state Geography Bee will be held April 1 in Albany. Each state sends one winner to the national competition
This is the first time Hamilton has had a student qualify for the state competition. Emilia competed against five other finalists in the school competition.
“We’re so proud of Emilia and of all the finalists who competed in our school geography bee competition,” Middle/High School Principal Bill Dowsland said. “Going to the state geography bee is a great achievement, and the entire Hamilton community will be supporting Emilia as she moves on to the next level of this competition.”
Although Emilia excels in geography, her favorite subject in school is math and she hopes to have a career as a geneticist. She also plays soccer, is part of the HCS musical and is a member of both the school band and school orchestra.
She is the daughter of Andrew Goeller and Kerri Taylor, and she is a student of Hamilton teachers Jamie Boardway and Monica Chamberlain.