All Mapped Out: Tarun Maddali, Finalist in Geography Bee

Whiz Kid's Name: Tarun Maddali

Whiz Kid’s School:  Central Middle School

Whiz Kids’ Age:  13-years-old

Whiz Kid’s Key to Awesomeness: Since the third grade, Tarun Maddali has developed a love of geography. When learning about a particular social studies topic, he was not only interested in the who and what, but where these historical happenings occurred. His passion for geography and his love of a challenge placed him in the top 10 at the New Jersey Geographic Bee held last Friday at Rowan University in Glassboro.

Tarun was one of 103 out of 400 students in grades four through eight to make it to the state wide competition after completing a written examination. A misunderstanding of the judge’s question kept him out of the national finals this year, but he is looking forward to next year and is confident he can make it to the national competition in Washington, D.C.

According to his mother, Vani Maddali, Tarun has vast interests and loves to read It is his self motivation that has helped him become a geography whiz.

“Even when I am too old to compete in bees, I will continue to study geography,” Tarun said. “Geography is useful in so many aspects of life. For example he says, “a scientist who is studying a certain species should know the geography of where that species comes from to give them a better understanding.”

When Tarun is not perusing the World Atlas, he is navigating his way on the basketball court with his friends or exploring the local terrain while out on a run.