Local teen goes to Washington

By By Georgia E. Frye / staff writer
April 15, 2004
UNION Union Middle School seventh-grader Ryan Ezell may not know what he wants to do when he gets older, but he knows where to find the tiny island of Montserrat.
Ezell's geography knowledge came in handy when he recently won the state Geography Bee at Hinds County Community College in Rankin County, defeating 88 students from around Mississippi.
He now plans to travel to Washington on May 25-26 and compete against 54 students from across the country in the national Geography Bee, sponsored by National Geographic magazine.
The event will be hosted by "Jeopardy" host Alex Trebek and broadcast on the National Geographic channel.
When asked how he became interested in geography, Ezell said, "I like to read everything I can get my hands on, and I have been studying a lot."
The geography bee, Ezell said, is much like a traditional spelling bee only the questions pertain to geography and not spelling. Ezell said most of the questions pertain to zip codes, physical geography and state capitals.
In preparation for the geography bee, Ezell said he has been studying atlases and visiting the National Geographic Web site.
Joey Ezell, Ezell's father and principal of Union High School, said he is proud of his son.
This year marks the first time Union schools have participated in the geography bee. Ryan said he is glad he had a chance to compete and is excited about traveling to Washington.
If he wins, he will receive a $25,000 scholarship to college.
Although he doesn't know what career path he might pursue, Ezell said, he knows he wants to go to Mississippi State University and then attend medical school.
Union Middle School history teacher Kathy Land coordinated the geography bee. Ryan is the son of Joey and Susan Ezell and grandson of Rod and Ginger Ezell of Meridian and Elton and Sandra Wall of Decatur.