Middle school student maps success in geography bee

Rebecca Malone

Thursday, May 24, 2001 | 10:38 a.m.

Since the age of 3, Jim Hoffman has been interested in maps and the meaning behind their bright colors.

Through the years he learned what the different colors represented and became aware of the names and landmarks.

All of that interest and study has paid off.

Hoffman, 13, was one of 10 finalists in the 2001 National Geographic Bee in Washington, D.C., Wednesday. The Helen C. Cannon Middle School student placed eighth in the nationally televised final round.

"He is very smart in other subjects as well, but geography and spelling are what he likes," said Karen Polak, Hoffman's "Junior Varsity Quiz" coach. "When he was accepted to the bee I loaded him down with about 75 pounds of books."

Polak helped Hoffman prepare for the bee by giving him chronicles of the 20th century and books on geography. Hoffman's geography teacher, Trent Billingsley, helped him study, both in class and for an hour after school once a week. Hoffman also used geography computer software to quiz his knowledge.

Even with all of the books, software and Internet quizzes, Hoffman believes that is was his years of interest in the subject that helped him remember all of the information.

"I have been interested in geography since I was a little kid, so I have had all that time to assimilate it," he said. "I was really excited about this, but it was also pretty unnerving being on national TV with Alex Trebek and everything."

To make it to the top 10, Hoffman had to compete with nearly 5 million other students first. He was among 55 contestants who won their state geographic bees and went on to the national competition in Washington Tuesday.

The state winners each received $100 and a trip to the capital. The 10 finalists received $500 and were competing for a $25,000 college scholarship and a lifetime subscription to National Geographic magazine.

Although Hoffman did not get the scholarship, his family was very impressed that he made it to the top 10.

"It's wonderful, I am so proud of him," his mother, Cynthia Hoffman, said. "Most of the other kids had done this a few times before, so it was great for him to do so well. He is a very bright boy."

Four of the 10 finalist were repeat contestants, including the first-prize winner, Kyle Haddad-Fonda, who had competed twice before.

Hoffman did get $600 and a trip to his nation's capital. While in Washington he spent most of his time with his mother at the Smithsonian Institution museums, which he visited both days after the competitions.