Participation in the National Geographic Geography Bee is one manifestation of Nativity's emphasis on global education. Since 1989, students in Grades 4-8 have competed to represent Nativity at the state level (and beyond) of the Geography Bee sponsored by the National Geographic Society. Brothers David and Jake Merkowitz both made it to the state round of competition in back-to-back years: David advanced in 1992, and Jake represented Nativity in 1993.

Their love of geography and belief in the importance of knowing "how to get there and how to get home" led them to establish the Merkowitz Brothers Award for Excellence in the National Geographic Geography Bee. The winner of the school round at Nativity will be presented with an atlas, a $100 scholarship, and have his/her name engraved on a plaque that will hang in the main hall of Nativity.

Recipients:       2007 - Molly Effler       2008 - Cameron Vogel

"I have taken a couple things away from the Geography Bee. First, I will always remember that kiwi is the number one fruit export of New Zealand that is also a topping on ice cream. That was a question I missed at the state level Geography Bee. Second, when we don't know about the world around us, we can never truly know ourselves." David Merkowitz

David (Nativity 1992, St. Xavier 1996, B.A. University of Toledo 2000, M.A. University of Cincinnati 2002) is working on his Ph.D. in history at UC.
Jake (Nativity 1993, Purcell Marian 1997, and University of Cincinnati 2004) is working for the Federal Government.