Local students advance to state Geographic Bee

Their knowledge of geography has earned 14 Kootenai County students the chance to compete at this year's Idaho Geographic Bee.

The event, sponsored by the National Geographic Society, Google and Plum Creek, takes place April 5 in Rexburg.

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

Up to 100 students 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 on May 20-22.

Local students eligible to compete in the Idaho state geography bee include:

Coel Tinkness, Athol Elementary, grade six; Andrew Rings, Skyway Elementary, grade 5; Isaac McArthur, Lakes Magnet Middle, grade six; Ram Lettau, Woodland Middle, grade eight; Rylie Rasmussen, Coeur d'Alene Charter, grade six; Kiera Herndon, Fernan Elementary, grade four; Matthew Stolley, Canfield Middle, grade eight; Olivia Adams, Dalton Elementary, grade five; Malachi Witherwax, grade five, Hayden Meadows; Kyle Bettis, Christian Center, grade five; Kaitlyn Ward, Atlas Elementary, grade five; Nicholas Olmo, North Idaho Home Educators, grade six; Cody Fisher, Lakeland Jr. High, grade seven; David Dickinson, Timberlake Jr. High, grade eight.

This is the 25th anniversary of the Idaho Geographic Bee.