ALBANY - Brennan Bloedel, a fifth grade student at Albany Middle School, won the school-level Geography Bee on Jan. 9 and a chance at a $25,000 college scholarship. Brandon Clark, seventh grade, finished second. The school-level Bee, at which students answered oral questions on geography, was the first round in the 20th annual National Geography Bee, sponsored by the National Geographic Society. Albany School finalists included: Andrew Berra and Cole Trapp, fourth grade; Brennan Bloedel and Logan Anderson, fifth grade; Mitchell Kauk and Tony Ruhland, sixth grade; Jared Anderson and Brandon Clark, seventh grade; and Juan Cid and D.J. Johnson, eighth grade.
This year's Bee saw thousands of schools around the United States, the District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories participating. The school winners, including Brennan, 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 this spring.
The National Geographic Society provides an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. for state champions and their teacher-escorts to participate in the National Geography Bee national championship in May. The first-place winner receives a $25,000 college scholarship; the second-place winner, a $15,000 scholarship; and the third-place winner received a $10,000 scholarship. Alex Trebek, host of Jeopardy, will moderate the national finals.
Albany schools have taken part in the National Geography Bee for the last 19 years. All students in fourth through eighth grades are participants, first in classroom competition and then in a 10-person, school-wide, final competition.
This year's Bee saw thousands of schools around the United States, the District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories participating. The school winners, including Brennan, 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 this spring.
The National Geographic Society provides an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. for state champions and their teacher-escorts to participate in the National Geography Bee national championship in May. The first-place winner receives a $25,000 college scholarship; the second-place winner, a $15,000 scholarship; and the third-place winner received a $10,000 scholarship. Alex Trebek, host of Jeopardy, will moderate the national finals.
Albany schools have taken part in the National Geography Bee for the last 19 years. All students in fourth through eighth grades are participants, first in classroom competition and then in a 10-person, school-wide, final competition.
