FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

STATE GEOGRAPHIC BEE FINALISTS TEST THEIR SKILLS ON APRIL 4

WASHINGTON (March 20, 2003)—The National Geographic Bee state-level competitions take place this year at a time when global events make it essential to have a sound understanding of our world and its geography, politics, cultures and religions. Such knowledge is second nature to the Bee competitors, who will be putting their geographic smarts to the test at the state-level contests on Friday, April 4.

The winner in each state will advance to the national finals in Washington, D.C., on May 20 and 21 to vie for the 2003 National Geographic Bee crown, first prize of a $25,000 college scholarship and lifetime membership in the National Geographic Society. The second- and third-place winners in the national competition will receive $15,000 and $10,000 scholarships respectively. ING Americas, sponsor of the 2003 National Geographic Bee, will also present the national winner with a week's trip to one of the SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Adventure Camps.

"Now, more than ever, with tensions in the Middle East that could have repercussions for the rest of the world, it is imperative that our young people be well-informed about their planet," said John Fahey, president of the National Geographic Society. "National Geographic has always recognized the need for geographic literacy and will vigorously continue its efforts to educate our young people and foster global knowledge."

The state Bees are the second level of the National Geographic Bee, which began last December with contests in more than 15,000 U.S. schools, involving nearly 5 million students. As many as 100 students in each of the states, Washington, D.C., Department of Defense Dependents Schools, Pacific territories, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands, who won their school Bees and then earned a top score on a written exam prepared by the Society, will compete on April 4. Each state winner will receive $100 and a National Geographic globe, along with an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington for the May 20-21 finals.

"Jeopardy!" quiz show host Alex Trebek will moderate the national competition for the 15th year. The championship round of the National Geographic Bee will be held at National Geographic Society headquarters on May 21 and will air that day nationally on the National Geographic Channel. Produced by Maryland Public Television, the finals will be broadcast later on public television stations. Check local listings for viewing times.

The 2002 national winner was 10-year-old fifth-grader Calvin McCarter, from Jenison, Mich. The youngest Bee winner so far, he correctly answered the question: "Lop Nur, a marshy depression at the east end of the Tarim Basin, is a nuclear test site for which country?" Answer: China.

Visitors to the Bee section of National Geographic Society Web site, www.nationalgeographic.com/geobee, can test their geography knowledge with daily questions from previous National Geographic Bees.

The National Geographic Society developed the National Geographic Bee in 1989 in response to concern about the lack of geographic knowledge among young people in the United States. And the problem is not yet resolved: A nine-country National Geographic-Roper Geographic Literacy Survey conducted last year showed that Americans aged 18 to 24 scored lower than their counterparts in the other countries surveyed, except Mexico.

In its ongoing effort to promote geographic literacy, National Geographic recently convened an international coalition of policy-makers and leaders in business and the media to develop strategies to fight geographic ignorance and apathy among young people around the globe and encourage interest in world affairs. The School Publishing division of National Geographic also produces a classroom magazine, National Geographic Explorer!, for grades three to six, that explores many science, geography and social studies topics and reinforces reading, writing and learning skills.

The 115-year-old National Geographic Society is one of the world's largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. It reaches more than 250 million people each month through its five magazines, the National Geographic Channel, books, videos, maps and interactive media. The Society has funded more than 7,000 scientific research projects and supports an education program combating geographic illiteracy.

Based at National Geographic Society headquarters in Washington, D.C., the National Geographic Channel is a joint venture between National Geographic Television & Film and Fox Cable Networks Group. It debuted to an initial 10 million homes in January 2001 and is currently available to 40 million homes.

ING Americas, headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., is part of Amsterdam-based ING Groep N.V. (NYSE:ING), one of the world's largest integrated financial services companies. ING in the U.S. offers a comprehensive array of products and services, including fixed and variable annuities; retirement programs; employee benefits; life insurance and mutual funds, through a variety of distribution channels. Additionally, the company offers wholesale banking, online retail banking and asset management services.

CONTACT: Reneé Kelly
+1 202 775 6190
rkelly@ngs.org

CONTACT: Ellen Siskind
+1 202 857 7001
esiskind@ngs.org