After two hours of searching an outline of the world atlas for countries shown without names, sixth-grade student Nolan Rose was named the Carbonado Historical School’s first Ambassador of the Year. On May 28, he located every country game-organizer Willis McNabb threw at him, without using his Diplomatic Immunity card.

Seventh-grade student River McNabb gave him a run for his money, placing second. Bailey Mills, also a seventh-grade student, was third.

Ryan Bentley and Ryan Roulier competed for the eighth grade.

The competition will become part of the school’s annual Passport Program. Rose’s name will appear on a perpetual plaque at the school. He will receive a smaller version to take home and plans to expand the program are taking off for next year.

Willis McNabb, a parent volunteer who created the game the students used for competition, is working to expand it to include the elementary students, who played an easier version in their classes this year.

Part two of the day’s events was the Passport Fly-off Day, a cultural festival in the school’s gymnasium. It was such a hit, it too will continue next year.

Both add depth to the school’s long-running Passport Program that started with the middle school students and now includes the entire student body, including kindergarten. Students learn all the countries of the world and the major capitals. They also create itinerary projects. According to teacher Signe Lukasiak, the program was developed, and continues to be updated, by Lynn Erickson of Olympia.

McNabb is one of a number of parents who help make the program work, Lukasiak said.

For years, she said, Jeanie Hubbell and Veronica Mills have co-chair of the monthly Passport Program. They come once a month and test each student to see if they have learned the countries designated for that month. Each student has a passport book that looks like a real passport, where they place stamps for that month. Thursday’s events were a culmination of all those months of study.

Lukasiak said teachers have wanted to have a cultural day or Passport Fly-off Day for some time. Like the Ambassador of the Year event, its inaugural flight was a success.

Middle school students picked countries from around the world. They researched each country and devised a plan to teach the younger students, kindergarten through fifth grade, about each country. The plan included decorations, costumes, flags, maps and an activity from the selected country. They could also include food or other items.

Sixteen countries were represented: Sweden, Peru, Cameroon, Thailand, Vatican City, South Korea, San Marino, Mexico, Philippines, France, Netherlands, Argentina, Uganda, Egypt, Bahamas and Saudi Arabia.

“I was so proud of the students,” Lukasiak said. “They were very creative and worked hard to make a memorable experience for the lower grades. I had many little ones tell me that they loved it and want us to do it again next year.”

She said she also had a number of younger students tell her that their name would go on the plaque, because they were studying hard to be the Ambassador of the Year.

Lukasiak said the program works so well due to the parent and staff involvement and participation, like the middle school teachers who wore clothing representing specific countries and the school’s secretary, who dressed as a traditional South Korean princess.