WEST LIBERTY – West Liberty-Salem 6th grader Aiden Taylor was notified by the National Geographical Society that he is a semifinalist eligible to compete in the 2019 National Geographic GeoBee Ohio State Competition at Winchester Trail Elementary in Canal Winchester on Friday, March 29.

This is the second level of the National Geographic GeoBee competition, now in its 31st year. The School Geography Bee, held in January, included students in fourth through eighth grades throughout the state to determine school champions. Taylor, WL-S GeoBee Champion, moved on to the Regional GeoBee taking an online qualifying test, which was submitted to the National Geographic Society. The National Geographic Society has invited up to 100 of the top-scoring students in each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Department of Defense Dependents Schools and U.S. territories to compete in the State GeoBees.

State Champions will receive a medal, $1,000 in cash and other prizes, as well as a trip to Washington, D.C., to represent their states in the National Championship to be held at the National Geographic Society headquarters May 19-22. Students that come in second and third place will receive cash awards of $300 and $100, respectively. Each State Champion will advance to the National Championship for cash awards and college scholarships.