by Cori Hilsgen
news@thenewsleaders.com
St. John’s Prep sixth-grade student Matthew Bolton was named the National Geographic State Bee semifinalist by the National Geographic Society.
He will compete in the Minnesota National Geographic State Bee contest to be held April 1 at St. Cloud State University.
Bolton’s teacher, Mary Anderson, said he is a “walking encyclopedia.”
“He knows everything about everything,” she said. “It does not surprise me at all that he knows so much about geography as well. He’s a sponge who soaks up things easily and remembers them.”
SJP director of communications and events Jill Pauly said 100 elementary and middle-school students will compete at the state bee.
Bolton won the SJP competition and went on to take the state qualifying exam. Twenty students in grades six through eight participated in the SJP bee.
“It’s a big honor,” Bolton said. “Only 100 kids from the whole state will compete so that alone is a big deal. Geography connects the world and you can use it for almost everything. A truck driver needs it to move his load and make deliveries. A cartographer needs it to create maps. Geography is very important.”
Bolton is the son of Nicole and Aaron Bolton of Sartell. He has two younger twin sisters, Amanda and Sarah.
He previously competed in the state tournament in fourth grade and finished in 12th place. That year, he did not get to go into the final round of competition. This time, his goal is to make it to the final round and hopefully win.
“I am not sure what I want to be when I grow up,” he said. “I like math, social studies and science. I hope to do something that combines all three subjects.”
According to an SJP press release, this is the second level of the National Geographic Bee competition. Fourth- through eighth-grade students throughout the state compete in local school spelling bees and winners then take an online qualifying test.
The National Geography Society invited up to 100 of the top-scoring students in each of the 50 states, Department of Defense Dependents Schools, District of Columbia and United States territories to compete in the state bees.
Champions will receive $100, The National Parks: An Illustrated History book, a medal and will travel to Washington, D.C., to represent their state in the national competition. The National Geographic Bee Championship, held at the National Geographic Society headquarters, is May 22-25.
The national champion will receive a $50,000 college scholarship and lifetime membership in the National Geographic Society. That champion will also travel, with a parent or guardian, on an all-expenses paid expedition to Southeast Alaska aboard the National Geographic Sea Lion, in recognition of the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service.
