Ardell wins Houlton Geography Bee

Houlton Middles High School held its National Geographic Bee Wednesday, Jan. 24, with Isabella Ardell, right,crowned champion. The runner-up was Kristian Kellerhals. Ardell advances to the next level of competition, a qualifying test to determine state competitors. If she qualifies, she will go on the state Bee held in Farmington on April 6. (Courtesy of Sandra Straubel)

HOULTON, Maine — Eighth-grader Isabella Ardell bested a field of 19 of her peers Jan. 24 to capture the school’s Geography Bee crown.

Ardell beat out seventh-grader Kristian Kellerhals for the school title after several rounds of competition.

According to instructor Sandra Straubel, who served as the bee coordinator, each of the 20 students answered seven questions in a preliminary round and the top eight scorers of that round went on to the final competition.

“When the final two contestants were in place, it went for several rounds of correct and incorrect answers,” Straubel said. “In a series of final questions, Isabella came out on top. This year’s Bee featured questions celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.  There were many interesting questions about state birds.  The students did very well on these in the preliminary round.”

Ardell must now take a qualifying exam to earn a spot in the state championship, to be held April 6 in Farmington.

Judges for Houlton’s bee were Tim Tweedie, Houlton High School history teacher, and Dan Hodgins, Houlton Middle/High School assistant principal. The timekeeper was Jenn Potter, Houlton Gifted and Talented teacher; and Bee Master was Evan Clark, Houlton Middle School history teacher.

The National Geographic Society developed the Geography Bee in 1989 in response to concern about the lack of geographic knowledge among young people in the United States, Straubel explained. The state winners of the Maine Geographic Bee earn an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. Overall winners receive scholarship money and a paid expedition to the Galapagos Islands.

Ardell is the daughter of Donald and Corazon Ardell of Monticello. Kellerhals is the son of Kristopher and April Kellerhals of Littleton.

Other participants in the bee were Lindsey Bartman, Matthew Conley, Conner Ames, Kenzie Hodgkins, Brooke Chase, Adam Fournier, Elena Ardell, Joseph Tompkins, Kurtis Reynolds, Collin Moody, Aspen Ledger, Landon DiRusso, Cody Johnston, Aiden Hanks, Keira DiGiovanni, Madalyn Quirk, Logan Faggiole and Gabryelle Gentle.