Lars Andersen and Maggie Kruger Advance To State Geographic Bee

Two students from Milbank earned a berth at the 2017 South Dakota National Geographic State Bee. The contest takes place at Northern State University in Aberdeen on Friday, March 31.

Lars Andersen, an eighth-grader at Milbank Middle School, will represent Milbank at the state event. He is the son of Susan and the late Ed Andersen. “Congratulations to Lars. We wish him the best of luck,” stated MMS Principal Kris Evje.

Maggie Kruger, a fifth-grader at St. Lawrence School, was also named a semi-finalist eligible for the state contest. She is the daughter of David and Nancy Kruger. “We are all very proud and excited for her,” stated St. Lawrence School Principal Brenda Anderson.

The state bee is the second level of the National Geographic Bee competition, which is in its 29th year. Each state champion receives $100, the National Geographic Concise Atlas of the World 4th Edition, and a trip to Washington, D.C. to represent their state in the National Geographic Bee Championship to be held at the National Geographic Society headquarters May 14-17.

The national champion receives a $50,000 college scholarship, a lifetime membership in the Society, including a subscription to National Geographic magazine, and an all-expense paid Lindblad expedition to the Galapagos Islands aboard the new National Geographic Endeavor II.