Ford wins North Butler Geographic Bee

By: 
Kirk Clark

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    Mason Ford, an eighth grade student at North Butler Jr./Sr. High School won the school-level competition of the National Geographic Bee on Friday, January 26, 2018, and a chance at a $50,000 college scholarship.  The school bee, at which students answered questions on geography, was the first round in the 30th annual National Geographic Bee, a geography competition designed to inspire and reward students’ curiosity about the world.  This year was the 13th consecutive year that North Butler has held the local geography bee.
            Other winners in this year’s SchoolBee were James Watson, an eighth grader, in second place, and Finn Rogers, a fifth grader, placing third.  After the first preliminary rounds held earlier in the day, there were 10 finalists vying for the top spot.  Those that were in the final 10 competition were Wyatt Anderson, Fletcher Buss, Dawson Clark, Mason Ford, Caleb Foster, Samuel Martinez-Macias, Zach McPherson, Drake Nielsen, Finn Rogers, and James Watson.         Mr. Kirk Clark, director of the school bee, was helped by MaTina Clark (NB 7-12 Counselor), Jamie Osterbuhr (NB Teacher), and Jordan Vanderloop (NB Teacher).  All students in grades 4-6 and many parents and grandparents were there also to witness this great annual event.
    Other students who were involved with the first day of competition but didn’t make it into the finals were:Owen Almelien, Aeryn Anderson, Kolton Becker, McKenzie Bohach, Avery Boos, Kamdon Boos, Lauren Fleshner, Lucas Goodrich, Josie Landers, Lucas Martzahn, Kolben Miller, Reagan Mulder, Alexiss Niedert, Sean Nielsen, Treger Pecha, Nolan Rogers, Addasyn Spain, Evan Swygman, Owen Swygman, Xander Treichel, Kaycee Wiebke, Ava Wiegmann, Yahni Woods.All students in grades four to eightwere given a chance to take a written pre-test for a chance to compete in the final 35 on stage.  All of the above mentioned did a great job and should be proud of their efforts.
    Thousands of schools around the United States and in the five U.S. territories are participating in the 2018 Bee. The school champions, including Mason Ford, will take a qualifyingtest; up to 100 of the top scorers on that test in each state will then be eligible to compete in their state Bee on April 6, 2018.
Read more in the February 1 edition of the Tribune.

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