Havre students are demonstrating their knowledge of geography, and are trying to earn a spot in national competition in Washington, D.C., in May.
Students from the fourth through eighth grade competed in a school competition at St. Jude Thaddeus School on Wednesday, and seventh-grader Richard Verploegen won the bee, qualifying to take a written test that could earn him a spot in the state competition April 5.
Students at Sunnyside School, where all fourth- and fifth-graders go to school in Havre Public Schools, are undergoing classroom competitions. The top 10 students will compete in its school bee, scheduled for Jan. 8 in the Havre High School auditorium.
Wayne Bolken, who teaches at Havre Middle School, said his school is not participating in the geography bee this year.
Sunnyside teacher Marge Suek said her school might need to hold a tie-breaker round. She said students from 12 classrooms will be competing in the seven-round preliminary competition, and the top 10 scores might be close.
The bee, sponsored by the National Geographic Society, awards a $25,000 scholarship to the national winner and $15,000 and $10,000 scholarships to the second- and third-place winners. Alec Trebek, host of television's "Jeopardy," is moderating the national bee on May 21-22 at the National Geographic Society's headquarters.
