Houlton Junior High students excel in geography bee

HOULTON, Maine — Students from Houlton Junior High School competed Friday in the National Geographic Bee for an opportunity to advance to the state competition and a chance to win a $25,000 college scholarship.
    The school-level bee featured students answering oral questions on geography and was the first round of the 22nd annual National Geographic Bee. Similar to a spelling bee, students were asked verbal questions, given written questions and also visual questions by looking at a map. There were seven preliminary rounds, followed by a championship round. A total of 20 junior high students participated in the contest.
Daniel Hermann, a seventh-grader at Houlton Junior High School was declared the winner of the event when he correctly answered the following question:
“After the United States and France, which island country generates the most power from nuclear energy?”
His correct answer: “Japan.”
An example of a typical first-round question is:
“Astana is the capital of the second-largest former Soveit republic. Name this present-day country.”
Answer: Kazakhstan.
Hermann, along with the state’s other local winners, must now complete a written test. The top 100 scorers advance to the state competition, to be held April 9 at the University of Maine.
“In the 19 years we have participated we have sent someone on to states 17 of those 19 years,” said Jodi Peabody, a seventh-grade social studies teacher.
The National Geographic Society provides an all-expenses paid trip to Washington, D.C. for the state champion and teacher-escorts to participate in the Bee National championship May 25-26. The first-place national winner will receive a $25,000 college scholarship, lifetime membership in the National Geographic Society and a trip to the Galapagos Islands courtesy of Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic.
The Bee Master was Mike Powers, a social studies teacher and department head at the school. Judges for the competition were Ann Kreyssig and Betty Fraser
Amelia St. John, an eighth-grader at the school, was runner-up in the competition. Other participants in the bee included Hansel Fardon, Hayley Flewelling, Tia DeSimone, Jacob Carter, Cameron Clark, Madison Black, Haven Rhoda, Amber Hulstrunk, Christopher Hulstrunk, Robert Woods, Lucas Grant, Ryan Tribou, Phoenix Crockett, Joshua Sullivan, Kyle Bouchard, Chase Brewer, Ethan Nickerson and Noah Holmes.