2002 Geography Bee

The National Geographic Society sponsored the 2002 Arkansas State Level of the Geographic Bee on April 5 in Arkadelphia. The Bee's competition consisted of the top 100 scoring participants from school level bees across the state of Arkansas. Eager students from fourth through eighth grades drove miles to reach Arkadelphia for the registration at 9:00 A. M. Shown here in various locations throughout the day, participants show their excitement all the way to the final round.

Participants, their families, and their teachers gather together to recite the Pledge and sing the National Anthem in the opening program.

Geographic Bee Coordinator Anne Linn welcomes participants and families during the morning opening program.

The top ten finalists anxiously await questions which will begin the final elimination. Left to right: Jacob Felts, Jonathan Baughman, Shaun Alvis, Seth Barlow, Kyle Macfarlan, Kevin Webb, Ben Hehemann, Joshua Hankins, Ali Haydar, and Megan Motley.

The audience listens to the procedures for the Geographic Bee, beginning with the preliminary round beginning directly after lunch and followed by the Tiebreaker for the tenth position, the Final elimination  round, and the Championship round.

Winner Jacob Felts, from Valley View Junior High in Jonesboro, accepts the National Geographic Society World Atlas as part of the First Prize, as Second Place Kyle Macfarlan, home schooler from Siloam Springs, and Third Place Ali Haydar, Annie Camp Jr. High also in Jonesboro, look on.

Winner Jacob Felts and Frank Fellone, Moderator from the Arkansas Democrate-Gazette.