Students head south for geography bee

Young geography whizzes from throughout Idaho, including 11 from Kootenai County, have been invited to compete in the Idaho State Geography Bee.

The contest will take place Friday at Boise State University.

School level geography bees were held for fourth-through eighth-grade students throughout Idaho to determine which student would advance to the state bee.

Local winners include: Connor Shaw, Woodland Middle School, Coeur d'Alene; Ryan Ealy, Canfield Middle School, Coeur d'Alene; Simon Nilges, Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy, Coeur d'Alene; Katatalina Pelz, Fernan Elementary School, Coeur d'Alene; Chase Sanchez, Lakes Magnet Middle School, Coeur d'Alene; Kaitlyn Huff, Borah Elementary School, Coeur d'Alene; Spencer Weisel, Dalton Elementary School, Dalton Gardens; Hope Grasham, Harrison Elementary School, Harrison; Tyler Sears, Athol Elementary School, Athol; Olivia Chaput, Hayden Meadows Elementary School, Hayden; Davon Sandford, Atlas Elementary School, Hayden.

Up to 100 fourth-to eighth-graders in each of the 50 states, District of Columbia, and U.S. territories have qualified for state bees that will take place across the nation on the same day.

Each state winner will receive $100, "The Complete National Geographic" on DVD and an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., for the national finals May 24-25 and the chance to be crowned National Geographic Bee champion.