San Antonio Academy
SAA Names Matthew Picazo and Joshua Carrillo as 2026 Geography Bee Champs
SAA Names Matthew Picazo and Joshua Carrillo as 2026 Geography Bee Champs
Posted January 15, 2026
The 2026 San Antonio Academy Geography Bee brought excitement and brainpower to Ellison Hall in a Jeopardy-style competition that celebrated the global knowledge of The Academy’s 4th–8th graders.
Held over two chapel sessions on January 14 and 15, the event was the culmination of weeks of rigorous preparation. Students first completed a challenging qualifying exam, and top scorers advanced to the next round for individual testing. Finalists sharpened their skills through study sessions over Thanksgiving and Winter Breaks and participated in rapid-fire after-school drills to prepare for the buzz-in showdown.
During the Bee, contestants answered questions spanning continents and climates, identifying natural landmarks, regions, national parks, and world capitals, all while racing the clock. The competition featured separate rounds for Lower School (4th–6th grade) and Upper School (7th–8th grade), with the top 3 scorers from each division advancing to the championship face-off.
In the end, 7th grader Matthew Picazo emerged as the overall 2026 SAA Geography Bee Champion, becoming the first to correctly answer eight questions in the final round, with runner-up 8th grader Joshua Carrillo right behind him. Both champions were honored with medals in recognition of their outstanding achievements.
Qualifying Participants:
Lower School: Brandt C., Henry K., Brennan S., Joaquin R., Wes M., and Caleb H.
Upper School: Robert A., Nicholas P., Matthew P., Edward G., Foster S., and Joshua C.
Special thanks go to Eliza Youngquist for leading the Bee and to faculty members Troy Wilson, Jennifer Carter, Kayla Briseño, and Veronica Bordano for helping to make it a success.
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