Merrick Ave. eighth-grader wins geography bee

John Lanka, an eighth-grader at Merrick Avenue Middle School, recently won the school-level competition of the 23rd annual National Geographic Society Geography Bee, held on Jan. 6 at the middle school. Lanka outlasted 45 other participants in the event. Thousands of schools around the United States and in five U.S. territories are involved in the contest.

As a school winner, Lanka will take a written test, and up to 100 of the top scorers in each state will be eligible to compete in their state Geography Bee in April. The National Geographic Society will provide an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. for state champions to participate in the national competition in May. The national winner will receive a $25,000 college scholarship and a lifetime membership in the National Geographic Society.