Oxnard College welcomed the 20th annual Geography Bowl, a “Jeopardy-style” geography trivia competition open to Southern California High Schools on Saturday, Nov. 22.

“I think it went very well, these students are very tuned into world events, geo-politics and environmental issues,” said Geo Bowl organizer Chris Mainzer.

Oxnard College’s Geo Bowl was a competition consisting of a team round-robin trivia event and also a written test. The winning high school team received a helicopter ride courtesy of Aspen Helicopters, in addition to a perpetual trophy to keep at the school until the next competition.

The questions themselves covered the environment, politics, the U.S. economy, and history, such as the Lewis and Clark expedition and Native American culture. This year’s Geo Bowl theme, which traditionally takes place the same week as National Geography Week, was “Mapping the Americas.”

Mainzer believes that considering America’s current political climate and economic crises, which are having more and more of an effect on world events, it is important for students to have a better understanding of the world around them.

“Knowing about other people and places of the world, I think, is important,” said Mainzer.

After a warm greeting from VCCCD Board of Trustees Chairman Dr. Larry O. Miller and Oxnard College President Richard Duran, the event began at 8 a.m. with the written competition, where students answer questions on a scantron.

A team round-robin competition then followed at 10 a.m., with each team answering questions by writing answers on large answer cards. Mainzer said that attendance was up from last year’s competition, with 148 students from 14 different high schools participating, compared to 2007’s count of 120.

Some of the schools that participated include Newbury Park High School, the High School at Moorpark College and Pacifica High School.

Newbury Park took home first place in the round robin competition, the High School at Moorpark placed second and Buena High School claimed third.