Geography bee winner moves closer to $25,000 scholarship

Florida — Nicholas Carbonaro, a fourth grade student at Golden Hill Elementary School in Florida, won the school-level competition of the National Geographic Bee on Friday, Jan. 13, and a chance at a $25,000 college scholarship. Fifth grader Nicholas Harty and fourth grader James Gardiner placed second and third respectively. Other finalists included fifth graders Julianna Allen and Sara Cannillo, and fourth grader Thomas Smyth. The school winners will now take a written test. Up to 100 of the top scorers in each state and territory will be eligible to compete in their state bee on Friday, March 31. The school-level bee, during which students answered oral questions on geography, was the first round in the 18th annual National Geographic Bee, sponsored by the National Geographic Society and JPMorgan Chase & Co. The kickoff for this year’s bee began in November, with thousands of schools around the United States and in the five U.S. territories participating. The National Geographic Society will provide an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., for state champions and teacher-escorts to participate in the National Geographic Bee national championship from Tuesday to Friday, May 23 to 26. The first-place national winner will receive a $25,000 college scholarship and a lifetime membership in the society.