3 Youths to Compete in Geography Bee

Three schoolchildren from the San Fernando Valley will compete in a state geography bee in Sacramento on April 8, and at least one of them is preparing for it by hitting the books during spring break.

The winner from among more than 100 competitors will participate in the Sixth Annual National Geography Bee in Washington and a shot at the top prize--a $25,000 college scholarship.

“Even if I come in last place, it’d be pretty neat,” said Jonathan Wilson, 13, a seventh-grader at Luther Burbank Middle School in Burbank. “I’m pretty excited I’m going there, period.

“I’m just looking at atlases and statistics to see what I can remember.”

Also competing in the geography bee are Nassira Nicola of Welby Way Elementary School and Tri Nguyen of John A. Sutter Junior High School, both in Canoga Park.

Showdowns among fourth- through eighth-grade students in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and five U.S. territories also will take place April 8.

Each state winner will get, among other things, a free trip to Washington with his or her teacher for the national finals May 24 and 25.

The National Geographic Society, one of the bee’s sponsors, started the competition in response to concern over a lack of knowledge in geography among American youths.