European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 5, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Monday March 1990 the stars and stripes a a a Page 9 education kids compete to Tell what a where by Gary Miller Mediterranean Bureau Naples Italy a the students at Naples High school cheered and clapped while others held up computer printed banners for their favorite competitors. The seventh and eighth graders being cheered on weren to athletes competing for a school championship. They were geography students mulling Over Tough questions about the worlds places. The nine were in the finals of their schools first geography Bee a program sponsored in american schools worldwide by the National geographic society. The top three geography gurus in the National finals will win scholarships Worth thousands of dollars. The society started the National geography Bee because of a growing concern about the Lack of geographic knowledge among Young americans. A Gallup Survey conducted last year in 10 countries found that americans Ages 18 to 24 know less about geography than people of the same age group in the other nine countries. To reach the applause filled finals the nine Naples students had to win a preliminary round held in geography and . History classes. In the finals the students proved they knew the location of the Nile River Delta a Egypt. But they were stumped by questions closer to Home. When asked to name the italian City that surrounds the Vatican an obviously puzzled finalists answer was Pisa. Rome is the right answer. After four rounds Only eighth graders Shawn Currey and Dustin Byrum remained to face the five question championship round. Byrum answered three of the questions correctly squeaking by Currey who got two right. Byrum the 14-year-old son of Marine corps col. Bruce and Jane Byrum said much of the credit for his Victory should go to his seventh Grade geography instructor sue Uribe. A she used to give us a lot of Geo facts a a he said referring to the Brief pieces of information Uribe collected on such geographic glimpses As the worlds highest Mountain or thes lowest Point in an Ocean. A besides that you can to really study for this. I read the newspaper and watch the news on to a a Byrum said. The Naples event was just one of Many geography competitions held in department of defense dependents schools. In West Germany about 130 students at Augsburg High school took part in its geography Bee. The two finalists there were Jose Negron and Jeff Rober. Rober the eighth Grade son of civilians Edward and Donna Rober of Augsburg came out on top 4-3, but said he did no to do much studying for the contest. A i knew most of the questions off the top of my  he did say his american history teacher Dwayne Ernst had quizzed the class. For their initial victories winners received certificates books of fun facts and inflatable globes. They also moved one step closer to a $25,000 scholarship. Irhe third round in the Competition is a written test. The National geographic will Grade the tests and compare results with those of top scorers from Dodds schools worldwide. Rober said he a not sure How he did on the 60-question test but he a sure would like to be the  the Dodds Winner will earn a free trip to Washington d.c., to compete in the second annual National finals May 23 and 24. The first place Winner in the National Competition will receive the $25,000 scholarship the second place Winner a $15,000 scholarship and the third place Winner a $ 10,000 scholarship. Contributing to this report education writer Jimi Jones in Darmstadt. West Germany geography quiz a finalists in the National geographic geography Bee found themselves being asked the following questions. How Many can you answer correctly 1. What country Borders Portugal on the East 2. What is South America s most extensive River system 3. What Mountain system extends the length of South America 4. What country is located Between Pakistan on the West and Bangladesh on the East 5. Name a country in South America through which the Equator runs 6. What country shares most of Finland s Eastern Boundary 7. What is Canada s most populous metropolitan area answers 1. Spain 2. Amazon 3. Andes 4. India 5. Brazil Colombia or Ecuador >1 i cum 7 turn Nurt a Quot a is amps Gary Miller Dustin Byrum ponders a question during the championship round of Naples High schools first geography Bee. Byrum who is an eighth grader won the Competition. Required class Aims to keep students in College a.  .���. F i 1 1 1. Ii to a n m i Kin it i iia Lnu i in a Rel k a by Steve Taylor Munich Bureau Munich West Germany a a mandatory course for students at the University of Maryland Campus in Munich May never be popular but it could help combat the colleges dropout rate. About 35 percent of the schools students done to return for their second year said Judy Cornell a school spokeswoman. But University officials believe More students will come Back after that first year if they Are prepared to Cope with College. The new course called College Aims is designed to acquaint new students with College. It deals with study skills personal relationships time management and interaction with professors. Students also Are Given a Campus orientation and tips on living on the Economy. Similar courses have yielded Good results in the United states where the first year dropout rate is 55 percent said a1 Traunsteiner the course coordinator at Maryland. A study at Western Illinois University showed that its 35 percent first year dropout rate declined to 26 percent after the class was introduced. Students who can handle the College environment Benefit the school As Well As themselves. Studies show for example that Grade Point averages can climb As a result of the class Traunsteiner said. Students however arc not As enthusiastic about the class As administrators. A i Wasny to Happy about it a said Aaron Tuemler a freshman at the Munich Campus and the son of command sgt. Maj. James and Marsha Tuemler from bad or Cugnach. Sam Harris or. Whose parents. Maj. Sam and Brenda Harris Are stationed in Mons. Belgium said he  have taken the course voluntarily. Still both students conceded that the class has some benefits. A the course presents a lot of new ideas a Harris said. A a it a not As bad As it  and for instructors the course offers the Opportunity to relate to students on a More personal level. A it s a deeper role for a lot of us a Traunsteiner said