Student Derin Tuncer Lands Great Success at the National History and Geography Bee

Congratulations to one of our outstanding 5th graders, Derin Tuncer, for his great success at the National History and Geography Bee! Known throughout our community for his deep passion for Geography and History, Derin has advanced multiple times to reach the National History and Geography Bee, an affiliate of the prestigious International Academic Competitions. We are incredibly proud of his dedication, hard work, and achievements. And, he’s not done!

Derin's road to Nationals has been exceptional. After acing his online qualifying exams in March, he went on to dominate the Regional History and Geography Bee Tournaments in Princeton and Ridgewood, NJ. Derin then flew to Orlando to represent his school, county, and region at the National Championships. He competed in a wide range of events, including Asian History, World Geography, and Geographical History. He also participated in buzzer-based competitions, where students earned points for correct answers and received bonus points for quickly reaching five points. 

When the scores were announced, Derin earned top national rankings in multiple categories: 4th in the U.S. for European Geography, Political Science, and Asian History; and 5th in the U.S. for History Photo and World History. Derin's stellar performance not only landed him a spot at Nationals, but it also automatically qualified him for the International Olympiads in both History and Geography. That means Derin has reached the global stage, enabling him to compete in France this year and Thailand next year.

The International Academic Competitions is a global organization dedicated to promoting academic excellence through quiz bowl-style competitions in many subjects, including history, geography, science, and the arts. It provides students from elementary through high school with opportunities to challenge themselves, meet like-minded peers, and compete at local, regional, national, and international levels. 

Hudson Montessori School, located in downtown Jersey City, serves children aged 2 to 8th grade. The school uses an interdisciplinary, theme-based learning approach to education, grounded in the Montessori philosophy and methodology, to foster a love of learning in its students. Its STEM-certified campus is the only one of its kind in New Jersey, featuring STEM-certified teachers who meet the highest standards set by the National Institute for STEM Education. The school welcomes parents to attend a school tour to learn more about the school.