8th National Geographic Bee

8th National Geographic Bee
DateMay 29, 1996
LocationWashington, D.C.
WinnerSeyi Fayanju
(12 at time of win)
No. of contestants57

The 8th National Geographic Bee was held in Washington, D.C., on May 29, 1996, sponsored by the National Geographic Society. The final competition was moderated by Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek. The winner was Seyi Fayanju of Henry B. Whitehorne Middle School in Verona, New Jersey, who won a $25,000 college scholarship. The 2nd-place winner, Ryan Bean of Augusta, Maine, won a $15,000 scholarship. The 3rd-place winner, Matthew Conway of El Reno, Oklahoma, won a $10,000 scholarship.

1996 State Champions

StateWinner's NameGradeSchoolCity/TownNotes
MaineRyan Bean8thBuker Middle SchoolAugustaSecond Place
MichiganPetko Peev6thForest Hills Central Middle SchoolGrand Rapids
New JerseySeyi Fayanju7thHenry B. Whitehorne Middle SchoolVerona1996 Champion
OklahomaMatthew ConwayEtta Ball Junior High SchoolEl RenoThird Place
PennsylvaniaJohn McElhenneyGreenvilleTop 10 finalist
Rhode IslandPaul RingTop 10 finalist
TexasPaul BensonSugar LandTop 10 finalist
VirginiaNathaniel CarrLurayTop 10 finalist
WashingtonAlex Kerchner6thKamiakin Junior High SchoolKirklandTop 10 finalist (4th place)
WisconsinVishnu BhaktaTop 10 finalist
WyomingPatrick SmithTop 10 finalist

References

  1. ↑ Melody Kramer. "Alex Trebek: On Hosting the National Geographic Bee". National Geographic. Archived from the original on June 17, 2013.
  2. ↑ "National Geographic Bee Champions" (PDF). National Geographic. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 8, 2016.
  3. ↑ Linton Weeks. "Right Place at the Right Time". The Washington Post.