Posted by William Nunnelley on 2010-04-09
James Niiler, a sixth grade student at Rock Quarry Middle School in Tuscaloosa, won first place in the State Geographic Bee at Samford University Friday, April 9. Niiler correctly answered the “Red Sea” to the question, “Jeddah is the port of the holy city of Mecca and is located on what body of water?” in the final round.
He received an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., to represent Alabama in the national finals May 25-26, as well as a National Geographic Collegiate Atlas of the World and a $100 cash prize. He is the son of Luke and Sandy Niiler of Tuscaloosa.
Ben Powell, a sixth grader from Tuscaloosa Home Educators School in Tuscaloosa, finished second. The son of Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Powell received an atlas and $75.
Daniel Picard, a fifth grader from Riverchase Elementary School in Hoover, was third. The son of Lee and Michele Picard received an atlas and $50.
Alabama’s top 100 geography students, all in grades four through eight, competed in Friday’s event. The competitors had qualified for the event after winning contests in their schools and placing among the top 100 scorers in the state on a test administered by National Geographic Society.
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 6,101 students from 45 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.