Bear Creek School's Dominic Mein wins school geography bee, in running to win $25,000 scholarship

On Thursday, Dominic Mein, an eighth grader at The Bear Creek School (TBCS), won the school-level competition for the National Geographic Bee, taking one step closer to a $25,000 college scholarship.

The winning question was: "In 1962, Algeria gained its independence from which European country?" The answer was France.

The school-level bee, at which students answered oral questions on geography, was the first round in the 24th annual National Geographic Bee. This year's bee is sponsored by Google. For more information, visit www.google.com/educators/geo.

The kickoff for this year's bee was the week of Nov. 14, with thousands of schools around the United States and in the five U.S. territories participating. The school winners, including Dominic, will now take a written test. Up to 100 of the top scorers on that test in each state will be eligible to compete in their state bee on March 30.

The National Geographic Society (NGS) will provide an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., for state champions and their teachers to participate in the bee national championship rounds May 22-24. The first-place national winner will receive a $25,000 college scholarship, a lifetime membership in NGS and a trip to the Galapagos Islands, courtesy of Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic (visit www.expeditions.com).

"Jeopardy!" host Alex Trebek will moderate the national finals on May 24. The program will air on television. Check local listings for dates and times.

Everyone can test their geography knowledge with the GeoBee Challenge, an online geography quiz at www.nationalgeographic.com/geobee, which has 10 new questions a day, or by downloading the "National Geographic GeoBee Challenge" app for smart phones or Nook Color.

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