Jamon Fisk, an eighth-grader at Country Day School, will leave Thursday for Washington, D.C., where he’ll be representing the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico in the annual National Geographic Bee.
Although Fisk says he is a little anxious about going, he has other things to think about before the contest on May 24 and 25—namely, studying for his finals—and can’t even think about studying for the bee.
Fisk, who’ll be competing with 54 other students from the States in grades four through eight, has participated in five geography bees already, so he knows the lay of the land, so to speak.
His first bee was in the fourth grade when it was called the National Geography Bee. He says most of this year’s questions in the territory bee were on current events, which he thought was easy. He admits he gets his information on current events from watching MSNBC, sports networks and “Ellen.”
And ,of course, he says he uses social media too.
His two best friends and classmates, David Kleeger and Christian Paulus, came in second and third in the Country Day finals. “He definitely deserved to win it,” Kleeger said. “We’re glad he is going to Washington.”
Peggy Keylin, geography and language teacher at Country Day, says a number of students from Country Day have gone on to nationwide finals since the first bee in 1989.
“Jamon has a love for geography,” Keylin said. “so he just absorbs it all.”
Coach Kathleen Graham and Fisk will have all their expenses to D.C. paid. The bee is sponsored by “National Geographic.”
Fisk said his parents, Stafanie Crosier and Jeff Fisk, and his stepfather, Wallace Phair, are also traveling with him for encouragement and support.
“I am psyched,” Fisk said. “ I feel like I’m already a winner. It feels great representing the people. I would love to bring home a trophy to St. Croix.”
Most radio listeners on St. Croix would recognize Fisk’s voice from the Gannet Hardware commercial. “I’m Jamon and I approve this message,” Fisk says.