Eric Yang,13, won a $25,000 scholarship and a trip to the Galapagos
Island with the bee's moderator, Alex Trebek.
The winning question in the national geography bee was about Romania. His friend Apuleyo Yanez says, "He wasn't nervous and he didn't really work that hard."
Yang shared how he's learned so much out geography, "Well when, I just read as much as I can, like atlases, the internet, and national geographic magazines, and the news and travel guidebooks, they all help me to build a good foundation and it's helped me."
Yang is all the buzz in the hallways at Griffin Middle School in the Colony where he's a 7th grader.
His friend Lori Martin says, "Wow he's the smartest kid in america that's amazing."
His algebra teacher, Tiffany Carter says, "We were excited the whole class just went up in an uproar when we heard that eric had won."
His teachers and friends saw it coming.
Shawn Foley says, "Last year he actually used to help the teacher. Whenever we had a question that she couldn't answer she'd be like that's Eric's question for the day."
Martin says, "He'll like suddenly know it, it's like how the heck did you know that and do you read the internet all day or what."
Yang takes 9th grade algebra with a bunch of 8th graders.
Martin says, "He's really made the 8th graders step up and want to compete for being top of the class and he does put that pressure on them."
And he excels in reading too.
His reading teacher Dulcey Conrad says, "He is naturally gifted he just has that drive to find information out and retain it."
That doesn't stop his friends.
Foley says, "When I do the school geography bees me an him have a little friendly competition but he always wins."
Conrad says, "He's a great kid I wish I had more like him ha ha ha."
The winning question in the national geography bee was about Romania. His friend Apuleyo Yanez says, "He wasn't nervous and he didn't really work that hard."
Yang shared how he's learned so much out geography, "Well when, I just read as much as I can, like atlases, the internet, and national geographic magazines, and the news and travel guidebooks, they all help me to build a good foundation and it's helped me."
Yang is all the buzz in the hallways at Griffin Middle School in the Colony where he's a 7th grader.
His friend Lori Martin says, "Wow he's the smartest kid in america that's amazing."
His algebra teacher, Tiffany Carter says, "We were excited the whole class just went up in an uproar when we heard that eric had won."
His teachers and friends saw it coming.
Shawn Foley says, "Last year he actually used to help the teacher. Whenever we had a question that she couldn't answer she'd be like that's Eric's question for the day."
Martin says, "He'll like suddenly know it, it's like how the heck did you know that and do you read the internet all day or what."
Yang takes 9th grade algebra with a bunch of 8th graders.
Martin says, "He's really made the 8th graders step up and want to compete for being top of the class and he does put that pressure on them."
And he excels in reading too.
His reading teacher Dulcey Conrad says, "He is naturally gifted he just has that drive to find information out and retain it."
That doesn't stop his friends.
Foley says, "When I do the school geography bees me an him have a little friendly competition but he always wins."
Conrad says, "He's a great kid I wish I had more like him ha ha ha."
