A Kalispell Middle School eighth-grader earned the state’s top score in an academic competition.

Devon Zander scored 78 out of 100 on the Scholastic Challenge 2010, a nationwide contest sponsored by the American Scholastic Achievement League, Principal Barry Grace said.

About 18,000 students across the country were tested for their knowledge in history, language and literature, general knowledge, logic, problem solving and math.

The average score nationwide was 53, Grace said.

For her efforts, Zander received a trophy, medal and certificate on the last day of school.

She was one of 40 Kalispell eighth-graders to compete; 34 of those students scored above the national average, Grace said.

The other students who scored higher than 53 were Katelyn Weed, Lander Crissman, Katie McHugh, Ben Davis, Alan Fraticelli, Hunter Linstead, Chandler Escalante, Sam McCadden, Carmen Miele, Carolyn Harms, Dylan Junjak, Raechel Young, Joce Denton, Cole Thorp, Megan Guillory, Sierra Crandell, Brian Leukuma, Ben Stone, Joey Wisher, Eric Vance, Jackson Day, Eliza Diegel, Julia Boharski, Katie Coen, McKenna Miller, Rhiannon Sturgess, Christopher Irlbeck, Christian Diaz, Taylor Treece, Rachel Bjork, Kristen Willich, Kevin Talcott and Ashlie Petek.