SAN MARCOS — Adam Perez, a seventh-grade student at San Marcos Middle School, won the school-level competition of the National Geographic Geography Bee Dec. 18 and a chance at a $25,000 college scholarship.
The school-level bee, at which students answered oral questions on geography, was the first round in the 21st annual National Geographic Bee. The bee is sponsored by the National Geographic Society.
The final two contestants both answered the following question: The Yamana are a people indigenous to Tierra del Fuego, an island at the southernmost point in South America that is divided between Argentina and what country to the west? Adam’s answer, Chile, was correct and gave him the win.
Seventh-grader Astrid Gonzales placed second with an incorrect answer to the same question. Eighth-grader Desiree Scinski took third place.
The kickoff for this year’s bee was the week of Nov. 10, with thousands of schools around the United States and in the five U.S. territories participating. The school winners, including Adam, will now take a written test and up to 100 of the top scorers in each state will be eligible to compete in their state bee April 3.
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 on May 19 and May 20. The first-place national winner will receive a $25,000 college scholarship and a lifetime membership in the society. The winner will also travel, all expenses paid, to the Galapagos Islands with “Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek. Trebek will moderate the national finals on May 20, which will be televised.
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