History repeated itself om 31st March when the Robert R. Lazar Middle School eighth-grader Veda Bhattaram once again took the top honors at 2017 New Jersey National Geographic Bee, held at the Rowan University. It was the second year in a row that Bhattaram has captured the state title in the competition.

The National Geographic Bee is designed to spark an interest in the geography for both teachers and students by testing the students in grades 4 to 8 on their knowledge of the subject. The students in 50 states, the District of Columbia, Atlantic and Pacific territories and also Department of Defense Dependents Schools all took part in the State Bees on the same day to determine who would compete in the National Geographic Bee Championship.

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Bhattaram won the title after successfully answering the question, "Altamira Cave, known for its prehistoric paintings, is found in the province of Cantabria in the northern part of which European country?" (The answer for the question is Spain.)

A Bridgewater-Raritan Middle School eighth-grader Anoushka Buddhikot finished the second, and Alex Mitchell, a student at the Oak Hill Academy in Lincroft, won the third.

Bhattaram will receive $100, the National Geographic Concise Atlas of the World, and also represent New Jersey in the National Geographic Bee Championship taking place in the next month at the National Geographic Society headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Mrudula Duddempudi.