For Immediate Release

Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Photo: Melrose Middle School Student Wins First Round of National Geographic Bee

MELROSE  — Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School (MVMMS) Principal Brent Conway is pleased to announce that seventh grade student Soren Taupier won the school-wide competition of the 2017 National Geographic Bee.

The competition, which was held at MVMMS on Friday, Jan. 6, was the first round in the 29th Annual National Geographic Bee — a competition put on by the National Geographic Society that recognizes students’ curiosity about the world. Every year, students in thousands of schools throughout the United States partake in the bee for the chance to win college scholarships.

“This was a difficult event that required students to use several years worth of geography knowledge to answer a wide range of questions,” Principal Conway said. “Congratulations to Soren for winning the school-wide bee. We wish her luck as she moves on in the competition.

In the next round of the bee, school champions, including Soren, take a qualifying test, and the top 100 scorers are eligible to compete in their state bee on March 31.

State winners are then invited to an all-expenses paid trip to Washington, D.C., where they will participate in the national championship rounds on May 15-17.

The first place national champion receives a $50,000 scholarship, a lifetime subscription to National Geographic Society, including a subscription to the National Geographic magazine, a trip to the Galápagos Islands and $500 cash. The second place winner earns a $25,000 scholarship and $500 cash. The third place winner will get a $10,000 scholarship and $500 cash. The fourth through 10th place winners each receive $500 cash.

Residents who wish to watch the national finals can tune in on May 19 at 8 p.m. on the National Geographic Channel or Nat Geo WILD.

###