Nov. 14, 2009

Fairfax, Va. (November 14, 2009)--George Mason University is hosting its third annual "World Ball Night" along with National Geographic at the Patriot Center on Sunday, November 15. Geography Awareness Week 2009, with its theme of "Get Lost in Mapping: Find Your Place in the World," will kick off with a national launch at the Patriots men's basketball game against the Dartmouth Big Green at 4 p.m.

National Geographic President and CEO John Fahey will attend the third annual "World Ball Night" college basketball game that celebrates excellence in academics and athletics and spotlights the importance of geography and global knowledge.

Fans attending the event will view National Geographic's Giant Traveling Map of Asia, watch local kids play a half-time scrimmage with Mason's signature "world ball" basketballs, play global location quizzes based on spectacular satellite imagery from GeoEye and tour a map gallery showcasing maps made by local students.

World Ball Night is operated in collaboration with the George Mason geography department and National Geographic. It was awarded a bronze medal for single-day attendance by the National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators in 2007 for attracting 8,000 fans.

National Geographic invites students, teachers and parents to explore the world through mapping during Geography Awareness Week 2009, Nov. 15-21. Continuously celebrated since its founding in 1987 by Congress, this year's Geography Awareness Week features an online Blog-a-Thon, a series of local and national events and a new Web site (www.GeographyAwarenessWeek.org) that provides a broad range of opportunities for the public to get involved, including downloading a free National Geographic map of the world.