Student Spotlight: Trip Leonard

A Colonial Elementary School fourth-grader has won first place in the Eastern Pennsylvania Regional Geography Bee.

Trip Leonard came home with a champion’s medal after competing in the fourth-grade-and-under bracket of the regional geography bee tournament held April 4 at the George School in Newtown. He competed against students from around the area in several rounds to earn a spot in the finals, where he was one of four students to compete for the top spot. Students could buzz in to answer geography questions that could be related to country names and capitals, geographic features like mountains and bodies of water, as well as history. 

Trip, who has an apt name for a geography buff, said his love for studying the world’s continents and countries was spawned when he received an interactive globe that enabled him to tap on various countries to learn facts.

“I found it very mesmerizing,” he said. “I memorized all the countries.”

He got to know the world better by using the globe at home, and continued testing his knowledge by using apps like Worldle (not to be confused with Wordle). His mother learned about the International Academic Competitions Geography Bee and registered him to take part. Trip prepared at home with the help of his mom, Becky, by answering practice questions. 

Despite the knowledge and practice he had under his belt, Trip was still a bit anxious when it came to competing.

“I was sort of nervous, but my dad told me to have fun,” he said.

When he was crowned the winner, Trip didn’t let it go to his head.

“I kept humble and shook the other kids’ hands,” he said.

While Trip has qualified to go to the national competition in Orlando and the international competition in Thailand, he said he won’t be making those journeys. For him, the fun is in learning about the world. His favorite fact is knowing that the countries of Uganda and Tanzania are separated by Lake Victoria. As far as visiting the places he has learned about, Trip said Iceland is at the top of his list.

“I want to go to Iceland so I can see all the volcanoes and relax in a geothermal spa,” he said.

His love for faraway lands is well-known among his friends and teachers at school, where he is sometimes consulted about his favorite topic. He said some of the skills and knowledge he’s learned outside of school can be applied in the classroom. 

“It helps me to stay on topic and not drift away on other things,” he said.

Gifted support teacher Steph Kundtz has observed that focus first-hand.

“I am incredibly proud of Trip for mastering complex global concepts. He has a passion for great attention to detail. As a geography enthusiast, Trip excels at categorizing and cataloging the world,” she said.