LAMORINDA WEEKLY | Local student named California National Geographic State Bee semifinalist

Lafayette sixth-grader Ben Marek was notified by the National Geographic Society that he is one of the semifinalists eligible to compete in the 2018 California National Geographic State Bee. The contest will be held April 6 at Cal State University, Fresno.

At the school Bees this year, students had to answer questions like these: The Appalachian Mountains run through which state-Georgia or Mississippi? (A: Georgia); and The North Platte and South Platte Rivers meet in which state-New Mexico or Nebraska? (A: Nebraska).

This is the second level of the National Geographic Bee competition, which is now in its 30th year. School Bees were held in schools with fourth- through eighth-grade students throughout the state to determine each school champion. School champions then took a qualifying test, which they submitted to the National Geographic Society. The National Geographic Society has invited up to 100 of the top-scoring students in each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Department of Defense Dependents Schools and U.S. territories to compete in the State Bees.

Visit www.natgeobee.org for more information on the National Geographic Bee.