Calgary teen wins big at national geography competition

A 15-year-old Calgary high school student is now $5,000 richer.

Jack Cheng has taken top prize at the Canadian Geographic Challenge in Ottawa this weekend with his impressive knowledge of geography.

"I'm glad I won," said Cheng in a statement.

"But this competition was also about meeting new friends, learning more about the world and visitingOttawa, which is the first time for me."

The Western CanadaHigh School student competed against 19 fellow map masters in front of an audience of about 150.

As a finalist Cheng had to answer 45 geography questions in a game show style format.

There were even questions, by video, from former prime minister Kim Campbell and astronaut Roberta Bondar.

More than 20,000 students from 600 schools across the country participated.

Calgary is pulling its weight in the completion.In the 2015 challenge Anzo Nguyen took top prize and Aaron Abraham came in second.

Both are Calgary students.

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