5th Grader Wins Greenbrier's Geography Bee

HAGERSTOWN, MD (December 13, 2005) – Fifth grader Rami Yanes won the Greenbrier Elementary school-level competition at of the National Geographic Bee on December 7, 2005. Rami won the school competition for the second straight year, and last year qualified for the state-level competition. All school-level winners will take a written test, and up to 100 of the top scorers will be eligible to compete in the state bee on March 13, 2006.

Other top finishers at Greenbrier were fourth graders Orin Kuehl as first runner-up and Jessica Smith as second runner-up. Other finalists were Scott Bennett, Chad Cowden, James Fitzsimmons, Delaney Santa Maria, Ryan Abbott, Connor McClellan, and Jaclyn Muse. Prizes included a globe, Geo Bee game, puzzle, t-shirts, and goodie bags.

The competition is sponsored by the National Geographic Society and the global financial services company, JP Morgan Chase & Company. National Geographic provides an all-expenses trip to Washington, DC for all state champions, for the Geographic Bee national championship on May 23-24, 2006. The national winner receives a $25,000 college scholarship and a lifetime membership in the National Geographic Society. Game show host Alex Trebek moderates the nationally televised finals.

Pictured below, l-r, front row: Ryan Abbott, Jaclyn Muse, Orin Kuehl, Delaney Santa Maria, Jessica Smith; back row: Rami Yanes, Connor McClellan, Scott Bennett, Chad Cowden, James Fitzsimmons