McPherson student Jirgens wins geography bee

Published: Saturday, January 20, 2007 9:14 AM CST 
McPherson Sentinel

Alex Jirgens, McPherson Middle School

Eighth-grader Alex Jirgens of McPherson Middle School won the school-level competition of the National Geographic Bee recently to earn a chance at a $25,000 college scholarship.

McPherson Middle School eighth-grade student Brandon Halbach placed runner-up and Jacob Reese finished third.

School winners, including Jirgens, will take a written test with up to 100 of the top scorers eligible to compete in their state Bee March 30. Jirgens participated in last year's state competition.

The school-level Bee, at which students answered oral and written questions on geography, was the first round in the 19th annual National Geographic Bee. The National Geographic Society sponsors the Bee.

Thousands of schools around the United States and the five U.S. territories began the contest during November.

The National Geographic Society will provide an all-expanse paid trip to Washington D.C., for state champions and teacher-escorts to participate in the National Geographic Bee national championship May 22-23. The national winner will earn a $25,000 college scholarship and a lifetime membership in the National Geographic Society.

"Jeopardy!" host Alex Trebek will moderate the nationally televised finals May 23.

The GeoBee Challenge board game also provides geography fun for the whole family. The board game won the prestigious Parents' Choice Award.

Anyone can brush up on geography with GeoBee Challenge, an online geography quiz at nationalgeographic.com/geobee. Five new questions are posted each day from previous national Geographic Bees.

The National Geographic Society is one of the world's largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations.

The 118-year-old society reflects the world through magazines, television programs, films, radio, books, videos, maps, interactive media and merchandise.

National Geographic magazine, the official journal of the Society, is read by about 40 million people each month in every country of the world. The National Geographic Channel reaches nearly 300 million households in 27 languages and 164 countries.