Bowling Green, Ky. - One hundred of Kentucky's most geographically aware fourth- through eighth-graders competed for the state championship of the annual National Geographic Bee April 1 at Western Kentucky University's Knicely Conference Center.

Sponsored locally by WKU's Department of Geography and Geology, Graduate Geoscience Society, Kentucky Geographic Alliance, and the Geography Club, the annual competition culminates with the national championship in Washington, D.C., each May, after state-level championship rounds on the first Friday of April.

Matthew Hensley, a seventh-grader at Beaumont Middle School in Lexington, became the Kentucky State Champion after successfully answering the following final round knock-out competition question: Which African capital city is only 150 miles from Sicily? (Tunis is the answer).

Hensley and runner-up Samuel Burgin from Westport Middle School in Louisville had battled to a draw during the first stages of the championship round, with Hensley answering the winning question after both students had failed to correctly identify the Bering Sea from the first knock-out round question.

Hensley had finished as runner-up in the 2004 competition and said that he was excited to compete again this year.

Maxwell Payne from Highlands Middle School in Fort Thomas finished third.

The winner received a monetary award and a globe, along with an expenses-paid trip to the national competition.

Students were tested on a range of geographic subjects, from capitals to culture, and from landforms to the environment. The National Geographic website (http://nationalgeographic.com/geographybee/index.html) provides details of the annual competition, along with a daily quiz with questions similar to the ones asked in the competition. Sample questions included: Priests called Brahmans have traditionally held the highest social rank among followers of what religion that originated in South Asia? (Hinduism); and What is the official language of Liechtenstein? (German).

The Championship Round was introduced by Dr. Blaine Ferrell, dean of the Ogden College of Science and Engineering, and the Master of Ceremonies was Dr. David J. Keeling, head of the Department of Geography and Geology.

Every year, thousands of schools across the United States participate in the National Geographic Bee using materials prepared by the National Geographic Society. "The contest allows students to demonstrate their geographical awareness of the world we live in," Dr. Keeling said. "Moreover, the contest serves as an important recruitment tool for WKU and lets parents and students know that Western has nationally recognized programs in the geosciences."

Geography Bee state coordinator Kate Greer Fischer said the contests occur in three stages. The winners at each school take a written test. The top 100 scorers in each state and territory compete at the state level. The 55 state and territory winners will meet at the National Geographic Society headquarters for the national competition, where 10 finalists compete for a $25,000 college scholarship.

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For information, contact Scott Dobler at (270) 745-7078.