6th-grader qualifies for state geography Bee finals

Sam Geldin

Sixth-grader Sam Geldin, 11, of Oak Park has qualified to represent Medea Creek Middle School and to participate at the state level of the National Geographic Bee.

More than 2,000 schools from Yreka to Calexico competed this year in school Bees and only the top 100 students in California advance to the state level.

The Bee takes place Fri., April 1 at Cosumnes River College in Sacramento. One hundred fourth- through eighth-graders will compete.

The state winner will be invited to the National Geographic headquarters May 24 to 25 in Washington D.C. to compete in the national finals. The national champion will take home a $25,000 college scholarship.

Geldin has already competed in other qualifying Bee competitions this year to get to where he is now. He won his class and school Bee competitions, and he scored in the top 100 on the state qualifying exam, required for State Bee entrance.

Geldin has always had a great desire to excel and an inherent curiosity about geography and the world around him.

His goal is to become the first student in California ever to win the National Geographic Bee.