St. Stephen’s Episcopal seventh grade student Madison Watts of Wimberley will advance as a semifinalist to the National Geographic Society 2007 Texas Geographic Bee, sponsored by JP Morgan Chase.  She is the daughter of Sharon and Robert Watts

Bees were held among fourth- through eighth-grade students throughout the state to determine each school’s Geographic Bee winner.  School-level winners then took a qualifying test, which they submitted to the National Geographic Society.  In each of the 50 states and in the territories, the National Geographic Society invited the students with the top 100 scores to compete at the state level.

The 2007 Texas Geographic Bee will be held at the Pat May Center in Bedford, Texas on Friday, March 30, 2007.

The state winner will represent Texas in the national finals at the National Geographic Society headquarters in Washington, D.C., May 22-23, 2007.  The state winner will receive $100 and the trip to Washington, D.C.  The national winner will receive a $25,000 college scholarship.

How would you fare as a Bee contestant?  At the school-level Bee this year, students had to answer such questions as:

Name the large city that lies between Lake Pontchartrain and the Mississippi River.

(Answer:  New Orleans)

Pakistan, an arid country largely limited to short grass and shrub vegetation, depends on water from which major river?

(Answer:  Indus)

Calypso, music which reflects Spanish, Creole, and African influences, originated on islands in which body of water?

(Answer:  Caribbean)

Which West African country, a member of OPEC, is known for its major oil reserves and is one of the largest producers of oil in the world?

(Answer:  Nigeria)

For more information about St. Stephen’s or the National Geographic Geography Bee call (512) 847-9857.