Mat-Su eighth-grader posts top-10 finish in state geography bee

Sam Snively, an eighth-grader at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic School in Wasilla, was the only Mat-Su top 10 finisher at the recent 2017 Alaska Statewide Geography Bee in Anchorage.

The event, sponsored by the National Geographic Society, was held in the Dena'ina Convention Center.

Organizers said both Valley students and adults were significantly involved in the program designed to inspire and reward students' curiosity about the world. The bee coordinator is Teeland Middle School teacher Kristi Shea.

A total of 101 Alaska students earned the opportunity to compete in the statewide bee in Anchorage including 14 students from the Mat-Su. They were: Madison Milwicz-8th Wasilla, Tyrus Whisman-4th Wasilla, Kai Iverson 8th-Palmer, Emilia Lertora 6th-Palmer, Henry Davidson-5th Willow, Ryan Paulus-7th Wasilla, Simeon Ramiriez-8th Wasilla, Sam Snivley-8th Wasilla, Toby Buchanan-5th Wasilla, Kyler Allen-4th Wasilla, Gage Hartman-5th Big Lake, William Prayner-8th Wasilla, Kay Lynn Ridlon-8th Wasilla, Garrett Streit-8th Palmer.

Initially, students in grades 4-8 enrolled in more than 10,000 local schools across the United States competed in local bees. Local school winners then take an online test to determine if they can compete in the statewide contest. The winner of the statewide bee wins a trip to Washington D..C to compete in the national contest at the National Geographic Headquarters May 14-17. The national winner earns a $50,000 college scholarship and other prizes.

Moderators for the state bee were Brian Brettschneider, research climatologist; Linda Jo Klapperich, Palmer Junior Middle School teacher; Jill Warner, retired Mat-Su Valley teacher; Cody Johnson, AK Science Project planner; and Marty Byrne, geographer, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.

Andres Aris of Begich Middle School in Anchorage was the winner, and Finnian Murphy, a fifth grader from Sitka was runner-up.