Schools

Whiz Kid: Jessica Ju Wins Geography Competition

Recognizing the achievements of Three Village students.

The Geo Bee at Gelinas Junior High was not only a way for eighth grader Jessica Ju to showcase her geography knowledge – it was also a way for her to measure just how much she has learned over the past year. She entered last year's Geo Bee and didn't do very well, and was happy but surprised to find out that this year, she had won first place. "It was very challenging because the world is so large and the knowledge so vast," she said. That's why Jessica is this week's Three Village Patch Whiz Kid.

  • Age: 14
  • Hometown: Originally from Orange, Conn., Jessica now lives in East Setauket.
  • School:
  • Favorite subject: History
  • Hobbies & interests: Dance, tennis, and piano. Jessica is also a member of the Gelinas Science Olympiad team.
  • Accomplishment: First-place winner of the Geo Bee at Gelinas, a National Geographic sponsored competition testing students' geography knowledge and map skills.
  • Jessica's Key to Awesomeness: Finding her inspiration in the encouragement of family and friends – even those she competed against, like Arial Leong, Jessica's friend and the second place winner of the Geo Bee. "My parents and friends motivate so much. They are always there to support me and challenge me with new concepts and ideas," Jessica said. She now gets a chance to take the state test and compete with other geography whizzes from around New York.


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