Bee winners announced

    HOULTON — Daniel Hermann, a fifth grader at Houlton Southside School, and Cody Woods, an eighth grader at Houlton High School, both won their respective school-level competitions of the National Geographic Bee on Jan. 16. The two school winners will now continue toward a chance at a $25,000 college scholarship. The school-level Bees, at which students answer oral questions on geography, are just the first round in the 20th annual National Geographic Bee.  The Bee is sponsored by the National Geographic Society.
Pioneer Times Photo/Sarah Berthiaume
GEOGRAPHY BEE CHAMPS — Southside School held its geography bee Jan. 16 and Daniel Hermann, left, took first place in the competition; Hayley Flewelling, winner of last year’s bee, placed second. The winning question this year was, “What country is due north of India?” The correct answer: Nepal.
    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, including Hermann and Woods, will now take a written test; up to 100 of the top scorers in each state and territory will be eligible to compete in their state 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, 2008. The first-place national winner will receive a $25,000 college scholarship and a lifetime membership in the Society.
    “Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek will moderate the national finals on May 21.  The program will air on television.  Check local listings for dates and times.
    Anyone can brush up on geography with Geobee Challenge, an online geography quiz at www.nationalgeographic.com/geobee, which poses ten new questions a day from previous National Geographic Bees.  The GeoBee challenge board game also provides geography fun for the whole family. The board game won the prestigious Parent’s Choice Award.
Pioneer Times Photo/Elizabeth Gartley
GEOGRAPHY STARS – Eighth graders Cody Woods, Ian Bauersfeld, and Brandon Clark have no trouble finding America on a map; they were the first, second and third place winners, respectively, in the Houlton Junior High School National Geographic Bee last Wednesday. Woods will next take a written test for a shot at competing in the state Bee in April. State winners travel to Washington, D.C. to compete for a $25,000 college scholarship and lifetime membership in the National Geographic Society, which sponsors the Bee.