Faith Lutheran School of Plano eighth grade student David Bork of Murphy has been notified by the National Geographic Society that he is one of the semifinalists eligible to compete in the 2018 Texas National Geographic State Bee. The contest will be held at Pat May Professional Development Center in Bedford, Texas on Friday, April 6, 2018.
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.
To celebrate the 30th annual National Geographic Bee, the cash prize for the top three students in each state has doubled. Each state champion will receive $200, the National Geographic Visual Atlas of the World, 2nd Edition and a trip to Washington, D.C., to represent their state in the National Geographic Bee Championship to be held at National Geographic Society headquarters, May 20-23, 2018. Students that come in second place will receive $150 and those that come in third will receive $100. The first- place national champion will receive a $50,000 college scholarship, a lifetime membership in the Society, including a subscription to National Geographic magazine, and an all-expenses- paid Lindblad expedition to the Galápagos Islands aboard the new
National Geographic Endeavour ll. Travel for the trip is provided by Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic. Second- and third-place finishers will receive $25,000 and $10,000 college scholarships, respectively. Visit www.natgeobee.org for more information on the National Geographic Bee. National Geographic will stream the final round of the National Geographic Bee Championship starting May 24, 2018, at www.natgeobee.org.
MEDIA NOTE: Prior to the state finals on April 6, press materials with additional information about the state- and national-level contests will be posted at natgeo.org/newsroom. To be notified when these materials are available, or for other inquiries, contact Lexie de los Santos (ldelossantos@ngs.org / (202) 807-3100) with the National Geographic Society Communications Department. You may also contact the State Bee coordinator, (insert State Bee coordinator’s name/email/phone), for additional information.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY
The National Geographic Society is a leading nonprofit that invests in bold people and transformative ideas in the fields of exploration, scientific research, storytelling and education. The Society aspires to create a community of change, advancing key insights about the planet and probing some of the most pressing scientific questions of our time, all while ensuring that the next generation is armed with geographic knowledge and global understanding. Its goal is measurable impact: furthering exploration and educating people around the world to inspire solutions for the greater good. For more information, visit www.nationalgeographic.org.
ABOUT FAITH LUTHERAN SCHOOL OF PLANO
Faith Lutheran School is fully accredited and provides classes from pre-school three-year-olds through
the twelfth grade. School curriculum is based on the classical model of education. The school's educational program also includes both sports and the fine arts. In 1971, the congregation of Faith Lutheran Church in Plano, Texas established a four-year-old preschool for children of the congregation. Since then, the school has grown and opened enrollment to others in the community on a tuition basis. To learn more about Faith Lutheran School, please visit the school's web site at www.flsplano.org or call 972.423.7448.