Eighth grader wins Decorah Middle School geography bee

An 8th grade student at the Decorah Middle School, Jacob Stock, has won the school's competition of the National Geographic Bee.

The school-level Bee, at which students answered oral questions on geography, was the first round in the 21st annual National Geographic Bee, sponsored by the National Geographic Society. Jacob now has taken a written test and soon will be notified as to whether he qualifies as one of Iowa's top 100 scorers. If he does, he will be eligible to compete in the state Bee on April 9th in Des Moines. The winner of the state Bee will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., for the National Geographic Bee national championship on May 25th and 26th. The first-place national winner will receive a $25,000 college scholarship.

The finalists for the Decorah Middle School georgaphy bee were 8th graders Anna Hovden, Maria Mertzenich, Austin Olson, Michael Ruiz, Jordan Schaller, Jacob Stock, Blake Taylor and Corrina Voigt; 7th graders Reid Drenth, Adam Knight, Caleb Kvale and Drake Schuring; 6th graders Cassie Bjerke and Tim Meyer; and 5th graders Brenna Betts and Kenzie Freeman.

After six rounds of questions, Jacob Stock and Blake Taylor emerged as the two finalists. They went head-to-head, answering the same three final questions. Judges for the school championship round were 8th grade American history teacher Janelle Keune, Luther College student Josh Holt, and Extended Learning Program teacher Peggy Beatty.

(Pictured above, left to right): Decorah Middle School teacher Janelle Keune and DMS students Jacob Stock and Blake Taylor.