Isaiah Suchman wins 2017 RI National Geographic State Bee

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CRANSTON – lsaiah Suchman, an eighth-grader from Nathan Bishop Middle School in Providence, took top honors at the 2017 R.I. National Geographic Bee held March 31 at the Scottish Rite Masonic Center. The state champion receives $100, the National Geographic “Concise Atlas of the World,” 4th Edition, a prize package, and a trip to Washington, D.C., to represent Rhode Island in the National Geographic Bee championship to be held at National Geographic Society headquarters May 14-17.

Isaiah is the son of Nina Tannenwald and Mark Suchman.  Isaiah is 13 and has been interested in geography and maps since he was a young child. He went to the state level bee in Virginia as a fourth-grader. He has won the school bee each year from sixth to eighth grades.  He placed fifth last year in the state level competition.

He is a member of Temple Emanu-El where he became a Bar Mitzvah this past year. He sings with HaZamir, Jewish High School choir.

Up to 100 fourth- to eighth-graders in each of the 50 states, District of Columbia, Atlantic and Pacific territories, and Department of Defense Dependent Schools took part in the State Bees.

The national champion will receive a $50,000 college scholarship, a lifetime membership in the Society, including a subscription to National Geographic magazine, and an all-expenses­ paid Lindblad expedition to the Galapagos Islands aboard the new National Geographic Endeavour II. Travel for the trip is provided by Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic.

The national championship preliminary rounds will take place on May 14 and 15 in Washington, D.C. The national championship final rounds featuring the top 10 finalists will be held on May 17 at National Geographic’s headquarters, moderated by humorist and journalist Mo Rocca. National Geographic will air the final round of the National Geographic Bee Championship at 8 p.m. Eastern on May 19.

Simcha, Suchman, National Geographic Bee