CHARLESTON, W.Va. – More than one hundred students in grades four through eight vied for the title of West Virginia’s State Geographic Bee champion during a competition at the Charleston Civic Center on Friday. The West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) sponsors the event each year.
Jason Hartley from Pleasants County Middle School, Pleasants County, was this year's first place winner. Yiping Wang from Beckley Stratton Middle School, Raleigh County, and Christopher Fields from Walton Middle School, Roane County, walked away with second and third place.
“Geography plays such an important role in a student’s education,” said State Schools Superintendent David Stewart. “When a child learns geography, he or she is also learning about social studies, history and economics.”
The state winner received $100 and an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D. C., with a teacher escort for the national finals. The national competition is scheduled for May 20 - 21, 2004. The national competitors will compete for a $25,000 first-place college scholarship and lifetime subscription to National Geographic magazine. Second and third place winners will receive $15,000 and $10,000 scholarships, respectively.
“This is a tough competition and I am so proud of how well all of the competitors have done in today’s event,” said Sharon Flack, WVDE Social Studies Coordinator. “The kids work very hard to prepare for this intense competition.”
For more information regarding the Geographic Bee, contact Sharon Flack, Social Studies Coordinator, WVDE Office of Instructional Services at (304) 558-7805.