Pleasants County Student Wins State Geography Championship

Posted: April 05, 2002
2002 WinnerAndrew Dutton, an eighth grader at Pleasants County Middle School in Belmont, today became West Virginia’s 2002 State Geographic Bee champion.  

Andrew has now earned the right to compete in the National Geographic Bee, which will be held May 21-22 in Washington, D.C. He won by correctly answering “Caspian Sea” to the question, “Many countries in this region depend on rich deposits of oil and gas in a body of water west of Kazakhstan. Name this body of water?”  

Final RoundThe 101 West Virginia competitors earned their place in the State Geographic Bee by winning local Geography Bees and then earned a top score on a written exam prepared by the National Geographic Society. Second place winner was Philip Pifer, from Wood County; third place honors went to Kirk Smith from Doddridge County. The 2002 State Geographic Bee was held at the Charleston Civic Center.  

“These students have demonstrated a remarkable knowledge of geography that will prepare them for a successful future,” said State Superintendent Dr. David Stewart. “Students across West Virginia recognize the importance of geography in everyday life and its significance in competing in a global society.”  

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Students in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories competed today to earn an all-expenses-paid trip with a teacher escort to Washington, D.C. In addition to the trip, each state winner receives $100 and other prizes. The national competitors will be vying for a $25,000 first-place scholarship and a lifetime subscription to National Geographic, second and third place finalists will receive $15,000 and $10,000 scholarships, respectively.