Eighth grader wins local geography bee

WORLAND - Worland eighth grader Karter Dunham took first place in the local Geography Bee last Friday and has a chance to advance to the state bee in April.

History teacher Joe Winkler said Tuesday that Dunham was scheduled to take an online test that night to advance to the state bee. It is a 70-question written online exam. He said he's certain Dunham will advance.

"We've never had a student who won school geography bee not advance to the state bee. It's the best of the best. If he can win it he's going to qualify. It will be tough at state," Winkler said.

Taking second at the local bee was seventh grader Tanner Stott, with fellow seventh grader Canyon Carrell taking third.

All students from sixth through eighth grade, more than 300 students, took a written test. The top 30 from the written test competed Friday afternoon in the oral competition.

Winkler said each student answered seven questions and the field was narrowed to six. That group, in a single elimination format, answered five questions and that reduced the field to three. After two more questions, the field was down to Dunham and Stott. After three questions Dunham was the winner.

Some sample questions that the students could practice on included open ended questions such as to take a rain forest tour and dance at the Rio de Janeiro carnival, what country would you go to?" The answer is Brazil. The questions also included multiple choice, such as What state is known as the peach state because peaches are one of its main crops? Hawaii or Georgia? If you guessed Georgia, you are correct.

If all goes well at the state bee, Dunham could qualify for the national contest in Washington, D.C. in May.