St. Stephen’s Episcopal School seventh grade student Madison Watts won the school-level competition of the  Annual National Geographic Bee recently and a chance at a $25,000 college scholarship. Students answered oral questions on geography during the school-level bee, the first round competition sponsored by the National Geographic Society.  St. Stephen’s fourth grader, Baily Datres, fifth grader Irene Gomez, sixth grader Dylan Dean, seventh grader Tyler Bohlman, and eigth grader Colin Iliff also qualified for participation in the final school-level competition. 

Thousands of schools around the United States participate in this competition that is open to students in fourth through eighth grades. To qualify for competition in their state bee on March 30, 2007, the school winners will take a written test. One hundred of the top scorers in each state will be eligible to compete in their state bee.

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 22 -23, 2007.  The first-place national winner will receive a $25,000 college scholarship and a lifetime membership in the Society.

And in a televised event, “Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek will moderate the national finals on May 23, 2007.