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TOP GEOGRAPHY STUDENTS TO TEST SKILLS AT STATE GEOGRAPHIC BEES ON APRIL 4
WASHINGTON (March 21, 2008)—On Friday, April 4, student geography whizzes across the United States and U.S. territories will participate in state-level Geographic Bees, competing for spots in May's national competition. The Bee is organized by the National Geographic Society. This year's state sponsor is Plum Creek.
Up to 100 fourth- to eighth-graders in each of the 50 states, District of Columbia, U.S. territories and Department of Defense Dependents Schools have qualified for the state Bees. Each state winner will receive $100, a National Geographic globe and an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., for the national finals on May 20-21 and the chance to be crowned National Geographic Bee champion.
First prize in the national competition is a $25,000 college scholarship and lifetime membership in the National Geographic Society. Second- and third-place finishers will receive $15,000 and $10,000 college scholarships.
John Fahey, president of the National Geographic Society, said, "In our constantly evolving world, geographic fluency is more important than ever in helping young people put events and places in context. National Geographic is committed to geography education and to helping young people understand and appreciate the world they live in, so that they can become informed and responsible caretakers of the planet."
"The Geographic Bee is truly an outstanding program that provides students a unique opportunity to better understand our world and the events happening around them," said Bob Jirsa, president, Plum Creek Foundation. "Education is one of the focal points of our Plum Creek Foundation, so we're genuinely pleased to expand our partnership with the National Geographic Society's Geographic Bee program to state Bees across the U.S."
The state Bees are the second level of the annual National Geographic Bee. The first level began last November with contests in almost 14,000 U.S. schools, in which millions of students participated.
The championship round of the National Geographic Bee — moderated by "Jeopardy!" quiz show host Alex Trebek for the 20th year — will be held at National Geographic's Washington, D.C., headquarters on Wednesday, May 21, and will air that day nationally on the National Geographic Channel. Produced by National Geographic Television, the finals also will be broadcast later on public television stations. Check local listings for viewing dates and times.
Visitors to the Bee section of the National Geographic Society Web site, www.nationalgeographic.com/geographicbee, can hone their geography skills by checking out the new GeoBee Challenge online game.
The National Geographic Society developed the National Geographic Bee in 1989 in response to concern about the lack of geographic knowledge among young people in the United States. The problem is not yet resolved. A National Geographic-Roper Public Affairs 2006 Geographic Literacy Study showed that Americans aged 18 to 24 still had limited understanding of the world within and beyond our country's borders. Even after Hurricane Katrina, one-third could not locate Louisiana, and almost half could not locate Mississippi on a U.S. map. Only four out of 10 were able to find Iraq on a map of the Middle East.
About National Geographic
The National Geographic Society is one of the world's largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to "increase and diffuse geographic knowledge," the Society works to inspire people to care about the planet. It reaches more than 300 million people worldwide each month through its official journal, National Geographic, and other magazines; National Geographic Channel; television documentaries; music; radio; films; books; DVDs; maps; school publishing programs; interactive media; and merchandise. National Geographic has funded more than 8,800 scientific research, conservation and exploration projects and supports an education program combating geographic illiteracy. For more information, visit www.nationalgeographic.com.
Based at National Geographic Society headquarters in Washington, D.C., the National Geographic Channel is a joint venture between National Geographic Television and FOX Cable Networks Group. It debuted to an initial 10 million homes in January 2001 and is currently available in 67 million U.S. homes.
About Plum Creek
Plum Creek is the largest and most geographically diverse private landowner in the nation, with more than 8 million acres of timberlands in major timber-producing regions of the United States and 10 wood products manufacturing facilities in the Northwest.
Note to Editors: Press resources on the Bee can be found at www.nationalgeographic.com/geographicbee and www.nationalgeographic.com/pressroom.
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Contacts:
Ellen Siskind
202-775-6190
esiskind@ngs.org
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