Tisbury School eighth grader Owen Porterfield claimed victory in the 2015 Tisbury School geography bee on Wednesday, Jan. 21. Owen correctly answered “Kenya” to the question, “National Geographic explorer Shivani Bhalla works with warriors in the local Samburu community to protect lions south of Lake Turkana in which African country?”
Owen will next take a written test that will determine eligibility for competition at the state level. The 2015 National Geographic Society Bee national championship is scheduled for May 11–13 in Washington, D.C.
Seventh grader Peter Burke competed against Owen in the championship round. Other students who earned a spot in the school finals were Nico Arroyo (grade 5), Ruairi Mullin (5), Owen Steenkamp (6), Ashtyn Watts (6), Henry Warner (7), and Christian King (8).
Social studies teachers Sean DeBettencourt (grades 5-6) and Reuben Fitzgerald (grades 7-8) conducted classroom competitions in December with their classes.
