BOTKINS — Joe Schipper, an 8th grade student at Botkins Local School, won the school-level competition of the National Geography Bee on Dec. 7 and a chance at $25,000 college scholarship.
The school-level Bee, at which students answered oral questions on geography, was the first round in the 26th annual national bee. The National Geographic Society sponsors the Bee.
Schipper beat fellow students Donovan Brown, who finished second and Jameson Meyer who placed third in the contest.
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 Joe Schipper, will now take a written test; up to 100 of the top scorers in each state will be eligible to compete in their state Bee in April.
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 May. 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 in May. 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 five 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 Parents’ Choice Award.
The National Geographic Society is one of the world’s largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to “increase and diffuse geographic knowledge,” the society works to inspire people to care about the planet. It reaches more than 300 million people worldwide each month through its official journal, through National Geographic and other magazines; National Geographic Channel; television documentaries; music; radio; films; books; DVDs; maps; school publishing programs; interactive media; and merchandise. National Geographic has funded more than 8,000 scientific research projects and supports an education program combating geographic illiteracy.
