Whiz kid from
Maui on U.S.
team going to
international
geography bee

Nicholas Jachowski also is
accomplished at spelling, math
and running a quick mile

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By Gary T. Kubota
gkubota@starbulletin.com

WAILUKU >> It's been a good academic year for Maui teenager Nicholas Jachowski.

He has placed third in the Hawaii State Spelling Bee, 10th in the state Math Counts competition, first in the Hawaii State Geography Bee and second in the U.S. National Geographic Bee.

Now Jachowski, 14, of Pukalani has been selected to be part of a student team representing the United States in the Fifth International Geographic Olympiad in Vancouver, Canada, on Wednesday and Thursday.

The international competition includes student teams from 12 countries, including Russia, Germany and the United Kingdom.

"These kids have won national contests," said Ellen Siskind, an official with the National Geographic Society, sponsor of the competition.

"It's not just a matter of being brilliant, which they all are. It's their interest in the world, their intellectual interest in places everywhere. They have to know the culture, economy and politics of practically every country in the world."

For example, during the national championship round in May, the moderator Alex Trebek -- host of the game show "Jeopardy" -- asked some of the following questions:

>> Which mountain range extends along most of Switzerland's border with France? Answer: Jura Mountains.

>> India's most populous state has an estimated 150 million people. Name the state. Answer: Uttar Pradesh.

>> Below the equilibrium line of glaciers there is a region of melting, evaporation and sublimation. Name this zone. Answer: Zone of Ablation.

Nicholas said he enjoys reading factual books about the world more than fiction because it is useful. "It helps you understand a lot more," he said.

Nicholas' parents, Doug and Maile Jachowski, said teachers at Kalama Intermediate have supported their son's endeavors by providing him with after-school tutoring.

Kalama teacher Judith Fukuda helped him study for the national competition despite being out of work during the recent state teachers strike, the parents said.

In addition to his interest in geography, Nicholas has played the French horn and cornet for the Kalama Intermediate band and run cross-country as a member of the Valley Isle Road Runners Association.

He has run the mile in 4 minutes 59 seconds.

Nicholas, who plans to enter ninth grade at Maui High School this fall, said he would like eventually to work as a photographer or writer for the National Geographic Society and travel around the world.

"It sounds like a really good job," he said.

Nicholas is not the only one to be recognized academically in his family.

His older brother Matt represented Hawaii in the National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., two years ago.

With three children younger than Nicholas, are the Jachowskis looking forward to future academic competitions?

"You never know what kids are interested in," Doug Jachowski said. "You just try to support them in what they want to do."