Sixth-grader Peter O’Connor has been announced as first-place winner of the annual Geography Bee, held at Forrestdale School in Rumson on February 4. As the result of in-class competitions held prior to the event, 18 students in sixth, seventh, and eighth grades were selected to participate.

Peter, the 12 year old son of Margot and Joe O’Connor of Rumson, achieved victory with his correct answer of “Canada” to the question, “Which country is the setting for Jack London’s classic novel ‘The Call of the Wild’, which takes place during the Klondike Gold Rush in the Yukon?” Second-place winner was eighth-grader Sam Eckstein.

Next up for Peter is participation in the Regional Finals of the National Geography Bee in April.

Seventh Grade Social Studies teacher Keith Laviola organized and hosted the Forrestdale School Geography Bee. Judges were Eighth Grade Social Studies teacher Michelle Devoy, Sixth Grade Social Studies Teacher Dan Morrone, and Eighth Grade English Language Arts Teacher Lori Zucker.