Student wins
scholarship
for $50,000
Teen entered contest
for fun, wound up
winning in NYC final
MONROE — He couldn’t believe it.
On Dec. 2 David Cohen won Microsoft’s national Encarta Bee competition and claimed $66,500 in prizes, including a $50,000 scholarship for college.
"The first thing I thought when they announced that I had won was, ‘It can’t be me,’ " said 16-year-old David.
David has had computers in his home for as long as he can remember. He said he entered the competition because he thought it would be fun but he never expected to win.
The competition was open to all citizens of the United States between the ages of 13 and 18.
The contestants were required to answer multiple-choice questions within a time limit using Microsoft’s’ online encyclopedia as a reference.
The questions cover all areas of knowledge that are studied in high school.
After eight rounds, the pool of contestants was narrowed to five finalists, who were flown to New York City for a live championship round at the New York Public Library.
The prize for first place was a scholarship worth $50,000 and a one-week vacation for two to China, Italy, Peru, Arizona or England.
David chose to visit England, where he looks forward to visiting Stonehenge.
David also received a digital camera and a Microsoft Digital Dream Package, which included a pocket PC and a collection of software.
Although David is still looking at colleges and universities, his first choice is Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, where he hopes to study mathematics.
His other choices include Princeton University and Yale University, New Haven, Conn.
David is the president of Monroe High School’s academic team, which is one of the top five in the state. He participates in the school’s Model United Nations and Mathletes and is one of the student representatives to the Board of Education. His dedication to education has made him one of the candidates for class valedictorian.
David speaks highly of all his teachers, particularly Mrs. McKeown, his trigonometry and calculus teacher. Aside from being what he considers an excellent teacher, David calls her "one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet."
David also said that the work he has done with Mr. Heinz, his academic team coach, gave him the preparation he needed to win the Encarta Bee. A third favorite teacher is Mr. DeFillippis, David’s U.S. history teacher.
"He has a very different teaching style, which I enjoy," said David.
David was a resident of Piscataway until 1996, when his family moved to Monroe. In his free time he enjoys playing the electric guitar, and he particularly likes the bands Led Zeppelin and Metallica.