Lundahl eighth-grader competes in state geography bee

Lundahl eighth-grader C.J. Boebel competed in the Illinois State Geography Bee held at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn April 1. Boebel was one of 100 students across the state to qualify for the annual event sponsored by National Geographic.

Boebel has won Lundahl's school geography bee for the past three years (a feat which hasn't been accomplished by any Lundahl student in recent history) but this year was the first year he qualified for state. The state contest, open to students in grades 4-8 who had won a school Geography Bee, required applicants to take a 60-minute online test. Students with the top 100 test scores were then chosen to participate in the event.

When asked how he hones his skills in geography, Boebel said, "I use resources that are easy to come by. I also looked at a globe every day in fifth grade and had a map taped to my wall."

Boebel claims he wasn't really on a quest to become an expert in geography, but was looking for something interesting to do. After winning the bee in sixth grade, Boebel admitted he was hooked. "It's like giving a kid a chocolate bar … he could get addicted," he said.

Boebel said he mostly learns about geography by watching YouTube videos and studying Google Earth, a virtual globe, map and geographical information program. The geography bees have also piqued Boebel's interest in world news and politics, and he enjoys perusing The Onion, a Chicago-based satirical publication about international, national, and local news.

To advance to the state finals, state qualifiers had to answer seven of eight questions correctly. While he didn't make it as a finalist, Boebel did well and made Lundahl proud.

"We are so proud of C.J.'s accomplishments, both locally and at the state competition," said Lundahl principal Angie Compere. "Winning our building competition three years in a row and then placing in the top 30 in the state is an amazing feat."

Besides representing Lundahl academically through his passion for geography, Boebel participates on the Lundahl track team in the discus and shot put events. He will attend Crystal Lake South High School next year as a freshman and looks forward to exploring languages. Boebel said he's considering taking German (like his dad did) and perhaps adding another language in college in preparation for a possible career as a diplomat, translator or historian.