Ridge View seventh-grader Ranquist qualifies for state geography bee

DEXTER — Ridge View Community School seventh-grader Kaleb Ranquist, the son of Erin and Robert Ranquist, has been notified by the National Geographic Society that he is one of the semifinalists eligible to compete in the 2019 National Geographic GeoBee Maine State Competition. The contest will be held at the University of Maine Farmington on Friday, March 29.

Ranquist

This is the second level of the National Geographic GeoBee competition, which is now in its 31st year. School GeoBees were held with grade 4-8 students throughout the state to determine each school champion. School champions then took an online 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 GeoBees.

This year National Geographic increased the prize money for all state GeoBees. State champions will receive a medal, $1,000 in cash and other prizes as well as a trip to Washington, D.C. to represent their state in the national championship to be held at National Geographic Society headquarters May 19-22. Students that come in second and third place will receive cash awards of $300 and $100 respectively.