Templeton Middle School eighth-grader Derek Stone won the school-level competition of the National Geographic Bee on Jan. 11. Runner-up in second place was eighth-grader Jacob Mueller and finishing in third place was seventh-grader Brendan Smith. The school-level Bee, at which students answered oral questions on geography, was the first round in the 20th National Geographic Bee. The Bee is sponsored by the National Geographic Society.
All students at Templeton participated in the preliminary round by taking a 25-question written test. The students who scored the highest on that test advanced to the semi-final round held on Jan. 7. As the school finalist, Stone will take a written test. Up to 100 of the top scorers in each state will be eligible to compete in the state Geographic Bee on April 4.
The National Geographic Society will provide an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., for state champions and teacher-escorts to participate in the National Geographic Bee national championship on May 20 and 21. The first-place national winner will receive a $25,000 college scholarship and a lifetime membership in the Society.
Anyone can brush up on geography with GeoBee Challenge, an online geography quiz at www.nationalgeographic.com/geobee, which poses five new questions a day from previous National Geographic Bees.
The National Geographic Society is the world’s largest nonprofit, scientific and educational organization. The 116-year-old Society reflects the world through magazines, books, maps, television and interactive media. The Society has funded more than 7,500 scientific research projects and supports an education program combating geographic illiteracy.