Between May 22-26, eleven Trinity Prep Middle School students joined over 2,000 other students from around the nation in competing in the International Academic Competitions national championships here in Orlando, Florida. Our students competed in the National History, Geography, Science, and U.S. Geography Bees as well as the History and Academic Bowl events. Additionally, TPS students competed in over twenty other events including taking national championship exams. Students acquired eligibility to compete at nationals as a result of successful reaching the playoffs and/or winning regional competitions throughout the school year. The following students represented TPS at the event: Kayra Bayram ’30, Karim Fikry ’29, Ivan Gupta ’29, Aden Jaffer ’29, Arianna Jaffer ’30, Miles Johar ’29, Chloe Kang ’29, Riley Kropp ’29, Russell Kropp ’30, Arthur O’Connor ’29, and Sophie Walterscheid ’29.

This year, TPS fielded one History Bowl team and two Academic Bowl teams. The History Bowl  team was comprised of  Kayra Bayram, Ivan Gupta, Aden Jaffer, Miles Johar, Chloe Kang, Russell Kropp, Arthur O’Connor, and Sophie Walterscheid. That team finished in 26^th place and qualified for the International History Olympiad in Paris. For the Academic Bowl, team A (Ivan, Aden, Russell, Arthur, and Sophie) placed 18^th.. Team B, which was comprised of Karim, Arianna, Miles, Chloe, and Riley, placed 33^rd. In the National History Bee, Arthur O’Connor placed 33^rd, Ivan Gupta in 120^th, Aden Jaffer in 165^th, and Arianna Jaffer in 145^th. In the U.S. History Bee, Arthur placed 31^st, Ivan 32^nd, and Aden 34^th. In the Geography Bee, Arthur O’Connor placed 32^nd, Aden Jaffer in 92^nd, Ivan Gupta in 115^th, and Ariann Jaffer in 183^rd.  In the Science Bee, Aden Jaffer placed 70^th, Arthur O’Connor in 95^th, and Ivan Gupta 105^th place. In the U.S. Geography Bee, Arthur O’Connor placed 9^th and an outstanding 5^th place in the U.S. Geography Championship. In the U.S. Academic Bee, Arthur placed 33^rd, Aden 36^th, and Arianna 29^th respectively. As a result of his efforts this year, Arthur will be representing Trinity at the International History Olympiad in Paris in July.

Each year, the nationals competition also hosts many subject-specific exams to provide participants a chance to test their knowledge against some of the best students in the nation. Our results this year were as follows:

Asian Geography – Arthur O’Connor 14^th place

World Geography – Arthur O’Connor 12^th place

European Geography – Arthur O’Connor 4^th place

Geography Photo Quiz - Arthur O’Connor 26^th place

American Geography - Arthur O’Connor 12^th place, Aden Jaffer 25^th place

American History - Arthur O’Connor 16^th place, Aden Jaffer 20^th place, Arianna Jaffer 39^th place

World History - Arthur O’Connor 3rd place

History Picture Quiz - Arthur O’Connor 10^th place

Ancient History - Arthur O’Connor 14^th place, Chloe Kang 28^th place

Recent History- Aden Jaffer 17^th place

Historical Geography - Arthur O’Connor 19^th place

Map and Flag – Arthur O’Connor 38^th place, Aden Jaffer 75^th place, Arianna Jaffer 94^th place

Physical Science - Aden Jaffer 31st place

Earth Science – Arianna Jaffer 25^th place, Chloe Kang 37^th place

Biology – Aden Jaffer 26th place, Arianna Jaffer 35^th place

This year, TPS also participated in several events for the first time. Chloe Kang and Arthur O’Connor served as delegates to the Intro to Model United Nations event. Representing Poland, Chloe Kang won the award for Best Delegate and Arthur O’Connor represented Argentina as an ambassador delegate. At the Family Quiz Night event, the family of Arthur O’Connor scored a fantastic second place and the family of Aden and Arianna Jaffer placed 21^st.  Arthur also participated in the Jeopardy Charity games event and placed third in the National Student Crossword Championships.

According to History Bee and Bowl Program Coordinator and Middle School Coach Kevin Keith, “Never has a Trinity Prep History Bee/Bowl team participated in as many events as our Middle Schoolers have done this year. It speaks volumes about their dedication and talent which many will now take with them to the Upper School team.” Many thanks to the families of these students for their tireless support throughout the school year. The 2025-26 competition season begins again in August. Anyone interested in joining can e-mail Mr. Keith at keithk@trinityprep.org for more information and a schedule of upcoming events.