Alexander Sessock, an eighth-grade student at MMI Preparatory School, will progress to the state-level competition of the National Geographic Bee and a chance at a $50,000 college scholarship.
Sessock is the son of Jennifer and James Denion, Freeland, and the late John Sessock.
The state bee will be held on Friday, March 27, at the State Museum of Pennsylvania, 300 North Street in Harrisburg.
One winner from each state and territory will advance to the national competition, which will be held May 11-13 at the National Geographic Society headquarters in Washington, D.C. Transportation and accommodations for the Washington, D.C., trip are provided for each state winner.
The first-place national winner will receive a $50,000 college scholarship, a lifetime membership in the National Geographic Society and a trip to the Galapagos Islands. Award-winning journalist Soledad O’Brien will moderate the national finals, which will air on television.
Faculty member Grete DeAngelo ’92 oversees the National Geographic Bee at MMI. “I’m so excited to see Alexander in the state bee. His hard work has payed off and this will be a great experience for him,” said DeAngelo, who teaches history and geography at MMI.
The National Geographic Society is one of the world’s largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations and was founded in 1888 to “increase and diffuse geographic knowledge.” The society’s mission is to inspire people to care about the planet. National Geographic has funded more than 10,000 scientific research, conservation, and exploration projects and supports an education program promoting geographic literacy.
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