WASHINGTON, D.C. — A local seventh-grader won second place in the finals rounds at the National Geographic Bee today.
Eleven-year-old Nilai Sarda, a Westminister School student, missed the grand prize championship by one question about the Ecuadorean volcano, Tungurahua.
He put his geography skills to the test against nine other finalists in Washington, D.C., and it paid off. He's now $15,000 richer, but he has modest plans for the money.
"Definitely put it in the bank. You know, I don't know what percentages, but I'll have to research stuff. Hopefully it grows by the time I get to college," Sarda said.
"Jeopardy!" host Alex Trebek moderated the competition and quizzed the whiz kids on country flags and provinces, mountain ranges, and some animals' home countries.
Sarda even talked to Trebek during a break, asking him why he didn't make it on "Kids Jeopardy." But after long hours of studying for this competition alone, Sarda's plans for now are set.
"Go home, and do nothing for a month."