Whiz Kid: Locke McGee

seventh-grader Locke McGee is turning 14 today, but most of his focus will be on competing in the 2011 Connecticut Geographic Bee in New Britain, CT. McGee, in fact, was one of only 100 students in the state chosen to compete.

Bees were held in schools with students in grades four through eight throughout the state to determine each school’s Geographic Bee winner. School-level winners then took a qualifying test, which they submitted to the National Geographic Society. In each of the 50 states, the National Geographic Society invited the students with the top 100 scores to compete at the state level.

Patch spoke with McGee before the Bee about how he's preparing for the big day and where on the map he'd like to visit someday.

Patch: Congratulations on making it the state competition! How are you preparing for the big day?

McGee: Well, I've been studying with an atlas and blank maps. I study for about one hour a day.

Patch: What are the different categories within the Bee that will be covered?

McGee: The categories are physical, cultural and political geography. My favorite is political.

Patch: Can you give me some examples of the questions you'll be asked?

McGee: One question might be, "What's the thin, wispy cloud that flies above the other clouds?" And the answer is the cirrus cloud. An example of a political geography question might be, "What is the capital of Cambodia?"

Patch: Are you nervous?

McGee: Yes.

Patch: I don't think you should be. I'm sure you'll do well. So would you say that geography is your favorite subject? What other subjects do you like?

McGee: I love history and geography. I also love science and Latin. Those are my favorites.

Patch: What do you love about geography in particular?

McGee: I love learning about the world and everything that's going on in it.

Patch: Out of all of the places that you've read and studied about, where would you like to visit the most and why?

McGee: I want to go to Argentina because they have good dove hunting.

Patch: Wow, so you like hunting? Where and what do you like to hunt?

McGee: We go to the border of New York and Connecticut. We hunt turkey, deer and ducks.

Patch: What other things do you like to do in your spare time?

McGee: I like playing sports — lacrosse and football. I also write about current events for the school newspaper.

Patch: Thanks Locke, and good luck!

McGee: Thank you.