Emma Vanderbilt, an eighth grade student won the Clintonville Middle School’s Geographic Bee and Holden Young, a seventh grade student, placed second.
Students in grades 5-8 competed in the Clintonville Middle School Geography Bee Jan. 29.
Ralph Williams was the moderator and Scott Werfal, middle school principal, was the judge.
Classroom contestants were: fifth grade, Brayden Branstrom and Byrson Kautz; sixth grade, Joey Hohensee and Brock Smejkal; seventh grade, Young and Kyle Tennie; eighth grade, Sami Smejkal and Vanderbilt.
Thousands of schools around the United States and in the five U.S. territories are participating in the 2015 event. The school champions, including Vanderbilt, will take a written test; up to 100 of the top scorers on that test in each state will then be eligible to compete in their state competition on March 27.
The National Geographic Society will provide an all-expenses paid trip to Washington, D.C., for state winners to participate in the national championship rounds May 11-13. The first place national champion will receive a $50,000 college scholarship, a lifetime membership in the Society including a subscription to National Geographic magazine, and a trip to the Galapogos Islands, courtesy of Lindblad Expeditions and Nation Geographic.
Award-winning journalist Soledad O’Brien will moderate the national finals on May 13. The program will air on television. Check local listings for dates and times.