Photo courtesy of the Bair Family
Miles Bair, a fifth grader from Kiva Elementary School recently represented Arizona on the global stage at the Third International Geography Championships in Vienna, Austria. Miles is passionate about geography, and his hard work paid off as he advanced to the semi-finals in the International Geography Bee World Championships and earned a series of impressive placements.
Miles was the only elementary school student from Arizona to compete in the event, which brought together young geography fans from around the world. His journey was filled with remarkable achievements: he placed 16th overall in the Geography Bee World Championships and his team secured fourth place in the International Geography Bowl. But that’s not all—Miles also earned top 10 finishes in several other competitions, including the Visual Geography Bee, Hexathlon, Geographeud, and Geopardy.
Despite the intensity of the competitions, Miles enjoyed the experience, not just because of the challenges but also for the fun outside of the competitions. When asked about his time in Vienna, he says, “Competing was my favorite part, but the pastries in Vienna were a close second!” It’s clear that his love for geography is matched by his enthusiasm for adventure and delicious treats.
Miles has been passionate about geography since he was just 3 years old, and his dedication to learning about the world is impressive. Even while balancing schoolwork, sports, and his social life, he continues to make time to explore geography. His achievement on the international stage illustrates his hard work and love for the subject.
Miles qualified for the international competition through his regional performance, prior to competing in his second National Geography Bee in Orlando, Florida, earlier this summer. Deanne Baldwin, who taught Miles in second and third grade in Kiva’s Comprehensive Gifted Program (CGP), played a pivotal role in his journey by finding the competition and encouraging his participation.
“His awesomeness is hard to put into words!” says Baldwin. “I am in awe of Miles’s remarkable composure, maturity, and success on the global stage. He exemplifies how hard work and perseverance can transform natural talent into incredible results.”
With such an incredible achievement already under his belt, there’s no telling what Miles will accomplish next. Congratulations to this extraordinary student for making Kiva Elementary and Arizona proud!
