National Geographic Bee held at Hilltop Country Day School

Sparta - Philip Stefani, a fifth-grade student at Hilltop Country Day School, won the school-level competition of the National Geographic Bee on Jan. 5, and a chance to win a $25,000 college scholarship. Students in the fourth through eighth grades answered questions on geography. There were 10 finalists at Hilltop. The Hilltop finalists were eighth graders Yazan Kadkoy and Brendan Brence; seventh graders Alyssa Armellino and Charlotte Gordon; sixth graders Hadley Ingersoll, Gray Prant, Richard McGoldrick and Cody Wilson; and fifth graders Meredith Coplon and Philip Stefani. This was the first round in the 18th annual National Geographic Bee, sponsored by the National Geographic Society with corporate support. Thousands of schools around the U.S. and its five territories participated. The school winners, including Stefani, will take a written exam in the next phase of the competition. Up to 100 of the top scorers in each state will then be eligible to compete in the state bee on March 31. The National Geographic Society will provide an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C., for the state champions and teacher-escorts to participate in the national championship on May 23 and May 24. The first-place national winner will receive a $25,000 college scholarship and a lifetime membership in the society. “Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek will moderate the national finals on May 24. The program will be televised; check local listings for dates and times.