OWASSO, Okla. – Rapid-fire questions. A buzzing timer. Confident answers. For 10-year-old Drew Carter, this isn’t just a competition; it’s where he thrives.
The Mills Elementary fourth grader is headed to a national academic competition in Orlando, Florida after standing out in regional contests this school year. Drew is the only student from his school to qualify.
A Love of Learning That Showed Up Early
Drew’s mom, Kristin McCain, says her son’s passion for knowledge was clear from a young age.
“I never thought I’d have to ground my kid from books,” McCain said. “If he ever gets in trouble, I have to take his books away. He’s just incredibly smart.”
That curiosity now fuels his success in academic competitions built around speed, accuracy and confidence.
Ten Hours of Questions and Top Finishes
Last fall, Drew entered his first regional academic competition, spending nearly 10 hours answering questions in science, history and geography.
“He placed first in science, and he placed in the other two also,” McCain said. “He was the only elementary kid that was there all day.”
Those results earned Drew a spot at the national level with the International Academic Competitions.
More Than Just the Classroom
Outside of competitions, Drew is a member of his school’s academic team and a Cub Scout. His mom says he’s constantly searching for answers and new facts to learn.
“He’s always wanting to learn and always wanting to know the answers to questions,” McCain said.
Drew studies about two hours a week for competitions and says the fast pace of competition is part of the excitement.
“I get to actually answer hard questions,” Drew said.
Eyes on Orlando
Drew and his family are now preparing for their trip to Orlando at the end of May, where he’ll compete against students from across the country. When asked what he hopes happens at nationals, Drew didn’t hesitate.
“Maybe I can win,” he said.
For now, Drew says he’s excited and ready to represent Owasso one question at a time.
Supporting Drew’s journey to Orlando
His family has set up a GoFundMe here to help fund the trip.
This story was originally published by KOTV (News on 6). Read the original here.
