Sweetwater Episcopal Academy Student Named Florida State Geographic Bee Semifinalist

ORLANDO, Fla. - April 1, 2014 - PRLog -- Matthew M., a 5th grader at Sweetwater Episcopal Academy in Longwood, FL has been notified by the National Geographic Society that he is one of the semifinalists eligible to compete in the 2014 Florida State Geographic Bee, sponsored by Google and Plum Creek.  This is the second level of the National Geographic Bee, which is now in its 26th year.  Geography Bees were held in schools with 4th through 8th grade students throughout the state to determine each school's Geography Bee winner.  School-level winners then took a qualifying test, which they submitted to the National Geographic Society.  The national Geographic Society invited the students with the top 100 scores in each of the 50 states, District of Columbia, Department of Defense Dependent Schools and U.S. territories to compete at the state level.

The 2014 Florida State Geographic Bee will be held at Jacksonville University, on Friday, April 4, 2014.

The state winner will receive $100, the "Complete National Geographic on DVD" and a trip to Washington D.C., to represent Florida in the National Geographic Bee finals to be held at National Geographic Society headquarters , May 19-21, 2014.  The national winner will receive a $50,000 college scholarship and lifetime membership in the Society.  The national winner will also travel (along with one parent or guardian), all expenses paid to the Gallapagos Islands where he/she will experience geography firsthand through up-close encounters with the islands' unique wildlife and landscapes.  Travel for the trip is provided by Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic.  Visit www.nationalgeographic.com/geobee for more information on the National Geographic Bee.

National Geographic Channel and Nat Geo WILD will air the final round of the 2014 National Geographic Bee, moderated by new host Soledad O'Brien, on Thursday, May 22 at 7 p.m. ET.  Check locate television listings for date and time in your area.