The Minneota Geography participants and winners.

How well do you know your geography?

Tyler Schmidt, an eighth grade student at Minneota Schools, won the school competition of the National Geographic Bee and a chance at a $50,000 college scholarship.

The Minneota Bee, at which students answered questions on geography, was the first round in the 30th annual National Geographic Bee, a geography competition designed to inspire and reward students’ curiosity about the world.

After Schmidt, the second place winner was Brody Larson of the Fifth Grade with Alyssa Engels, an eighth grader in third place. Alternates are: Gabriel Ludwikowski (Fourth grade); Adriana Karstens (Fifth grade); Gus VanHecke (Sixth grade); Evan Popowski (seventh grade) and Christian Moon (eighth grade).

Additional finalists who competed were: Melanie Engels (Fourth grade); Garrett Peterson (Fourth grade); Truthton Fales (Fifth grade); Joe Voit (Sixth grade); Cora Fischer (Sixth grade); Michael Popowski (Seventh grade) and Logan Myhre (Seventh grade).

The 10 competitors answered questions in the Final Round on US and World geography and reading a map on US Interstates until two were remaining to compete in the Championship Round.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the National Geographic Bee. 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.

Over three decades, 1,583 state champions have traveled to D.C. to participate in the finals and more than $1.5 million in college scholarship money has been awarded to winners of the competition by the National Geographic Society.

The school champions, including Schmidt, will take a qualifying test; up to 100 of the top scorers on that test in each state will then be eligible to compete in their state Bee on April 6, 2018.

The National Geographic Society will provide an all-expenses paid trip to Washington, D.C., for state winners to participate in the Bee national championship rounds May 20-23, 2018.

Over three decades, 1,583 state champions have traveled to D.C. to participate in the finals and more than $1.5 million in college scholarship money has been awarded to winners of the competition by the National Geographic Society.

Photo:

The Minneota Geography participants and winners are: (front row, left to right) Brody Larson, Truthton Fales, Melanie Engels, Gabriel Ludwikowski, Garrett Peterson and Addy Karstens. Back row: Gus VanHecke, Cora Fischer, Joe Voit, Tyler Schmidt, Alyssa Engels, Logan Myhre, Michael Popowski, Evan Popowski and Christian Moon.

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