Three Emporia students are ready for the second phase of the National Geographic Bee and a chance to win a $25,000 college scholarship.
School Geography Bees were held last month at Lowther South and Lowther North intermediate schools and earlier this month at Emporia Middle School.
Winners of the oral competitions were: Bryan Sandoval, fifth grade; Jacob Wright, sixth grade; and Mary Miller, eighth grade. Bryan is the son of Denis and Evelin Sandoval; Jacob is the son of Tim and Kristi Wright; and Mary is the daughter of Nathan and Victoria Clark.
This school-level Bee, during which students answered oral questions on geography, was the first round in the 20th Annual National Geographic Bee. The Bee is sponsored by the National Geographic Society.
The kickoff for this year’s Bee was the week of Nov. 12, with thousands of schools around the United States and in the five U.S. territories participating. The school winners now will take a written test and up to 100 of the top scorers in each state will be eligible to compete in their state Bee April 4, 2008.
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 in May. The first-place national winner will receive a $25,000 college scholarship and a lifetime membership in the Society.