A love of maps and global cultures helped Garrett Armstrong, a junior at Martin L. Nesbitt, Jr. Discovery Academy, win his school’s Geography Bee and earn the chance to compete at the national level.
Ten Nesbitt Chargers participated in the school competition in late February, which was organized by social studies teacher Charlie Lanahan and math teacher Misti McDaniel. Armstrong took first place, with junior Boone Bowman finishing second. Students answered questions about a broad range of geographic interests ranging from landforms, climate, and rivers to countries, capitals, and borders to languages and landmarks. The event helped students deepen their understanding of geography while building confidence through academic competition.
Armstrong said his love of geography started when he was in second grade. His grandmother had a huge world map rolled up and stored in her house.
“And I would just unfurl it, and it would take up the whole surface area of the floor of the room,” he said. “And I loved just poring over it. Ever since I’ve been fascinated with maps and other countries and cultures.”
Lanahan said Armstrong has long demonstrated an exceptional aptitude for geography, even earning the top possible score in AP Human Geography during the Helene-shortened fall 2024 semester.
“He’s such an accomplished geographer that I’ve had him co-teach part of the AP Human Geography curriculum on global language patterns,” Lanahan said. “He really knows what he’s talking about, and he’s grown a lot here at Nesbitt.”
Armstrong will next compete in a virtual qualifying round on March 26-27. If successful, he will advance to the national championship in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on May 16.
