National Geographic Bee

It's Bee Time! National Geographic Bee Finals on Wednesday, May 23

Preliminary rounds of the 2007 National Geographic Bee begin today, Tuesday, May 22. The National Geography Bee returns for the nineteenth consecutive year, and the host will again be Alex Trebek. Nearly 5 million students in grades four through eight from all fifty states first compete in school and state level competitions with ten finalists in the championship round on Wednesday, May 23. The winner receives a $25,000 college scholarship and a lifetime membership in the National Geographic Society. Second-place wins a $15,000 scholarship, and third-place wins a $10,000 scholarship.

The national finals will air on the National Geographic Channel on Wednesday, May 23 at 5:00 P.M. (Eastern Time). Local public television stations will also air the competition. For a schedule of the air dates in all fifty states, check www.mpt.org/programsinterests/geobee.cfm Viewers in the Muncie, Indiana, area can view the broadcast on WIPB on Wednesday, May 30 at 5:30 P.M. This year viewers can also watch a half-hour special, “Road to the Geo Bee.” This program follows three state winners as they prepare for the national competition, and one of the students featured is from Indiana. This program will air locally on WIPB on May 29 at 5:30 P.M.

For more information about the National Geography Bee, visit the National Geographic website at http://www.nationalgeographic.com/geographybee/