Russellville fourth- through eighth-grade students participated in the school-level competition of the National Geographic GeoBee the first week of December by taking a written test.
Russellville held the finalist competition on Friday, Dec. 20. Students competed in the competition during an assembly in the middle school gymnasium. The finalists were determined by their scores on the preliminary test that was given to all students in the fourth-eighth grade. The finalists were: fifth grade - Hayden Barnett; sixth grade - Bella Maharas; seventh grade - Ryan Brown; and eighth grade - Erin Schroer, Brettlynn Strother, Zachary Colter, Ella Volkart, Ethen Trivitt and Andy Blanton.
The school-level competition is the first round in the National Geographic GeoBee, a geography competition designed to inspire and reward students' curiosity about the world. Questions cover not only geography but also cultures, physical features, history and earth science.
The following students were the winners of the finalist competition: first place - Ethen Trivitt, second place - Andy Blanton, and third place - Brettlynn Strother.
Ethen will take an online qualifying test; up to 100 of the top test scorers in each state then become eligible to compete in their State GeoBee. The Missouri GeoBee will be March 27. The winners of the State GeoBees receive an all-expense paid trip to participate in the GeoBee national championship in spring 2020. Students will be competing for cash prizes, scholarships and an all-expenses paid Lindblad expedition to the Galapagos Islands aboard the National Geographic Endeavour II.
In addition to the GeoBee, National Geographic also offers classroom resources, student experiences and professional development opportunities for educators.