The United States Geography Olympiad held its first ever National Championships on Friday, April 26 in Arlington, VA with more than 150 students from across the USA competing. A great time was had by all, and at the conclusion of the competition, Anton Karpovich of IMSA (the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, Aurora, IL) and Abhinav Kurada of AMSA (the Advanced Math and Science Academy Charter School, Marlborough, MA) were the respective Varsity and Junior Varsity National Champions! Anton swept all three events, winning the multiple choice exam, the short answer exam, and the quiz bowl tournament in the Varsity division. In the JV, Abhinav was also the gold medalist in the multiple choice exam, Nilai Sarda of Westminster (Atlanta, GA) won gold in the short answer exam, and Tajin Rogers of St. Anselm’s Abbey School (Washington, DC) won gold in the quiz bowl tournament.
Additionally, with Anton’s sweep of the three Varsity events, the second, third, and fourth place overall winners in the Varsity division gained slots on Team USA at the International Geography Olympiad this summer in Kyoto. They are, in order, Pranav Bhandarkar of North Oconee High School (Bogart, GA), Joseph Kiernan of Moorestown Friends School (Moorestown, NJ), and Nirav Ilango of Chattahoochee High School (Johns Creek, GA). Full results will be available under the Nationals link soon. Thanks to all who came and competed or helped out with our first ever National Championships! Information on next year’s competition will be available soon.
