Nicholas Werling
Nicholas Werling, a 7th grade student at Hart Middle School is one of the semifinalists eligible to compete in the 2015 Michigan National Geographic State Bee. The contest will be held at the Fetzer Center in Kalamazoo on Friday, March 27, 2015.
“We are proud of Nick’s accomplishments,” said Hart Middle School Geography Teacher H.G. Schultz. “Nick is inquisitive, insightful, talented and empathetic beyond his years.”
Nick has excelled under Schultz’s instruction.
“Mr. Schultz forms meaningful connections with kids and has the ability to get the best out of each of his students by creating an inviting classroom, being a great teacher, and showing care for all his students,” said Hart Middle School Principal Allison Roberts.
According to the press release, this is the second level of the National Geographic Bee competition, which is now in its 27th 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, District of Columbia, Department of Defense Dependents Schools and U.S. territories to compete in the state Bees.
Each state champion will receive $100, the “National Geographic Atlas of the World, 10th Edition,” a medal, 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 11-13, 2015.
The National Geographic Channel and Nat Geo WILD will air the 2015 National Geographic Bee Championship final round, moderated by award-winning journalist Soledad O’Brien, on Friday, May 15, at 8 p.m. The final round will be aired later on public television stations. Check local television listings for air date and time in your area.
How would you fare as a Bee contestant? At the school Bees this year, students had to answer such questions as:
- Six-time Super Bowl champions, the Pittsburgh Steelers, play football near the source of the Ohio River in which state—Alabama or Pennsylvania? Answer: Pennsylvania
- Balboa Park, with more than ten museums, performing arts centers, and gardens, is located in which southern California city? Answer: San Diego
- Taylor Swift performed songs from her album Red last summer in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of which Asian country that borders the South China Sea? Answer: Malaysia
- Disney’s blockbuster movie Frozen is set in the fictional land of Arendelle, which was largely inspired by the country of Norway. Norway is located on which European peninsula? Answer: Scandinavian Peninsula
About Sarah Hovis