Home state: Washington
Grade level: Seventh
After finishing among the top ten finalists in 1996, twelve-year-old Alex Kerchner returned to the national competition and became the 1997 national champion. Like many other winners, the seventh grader from Kirkland, Washington, had participated in the Bee every year since he first became eligible in fourth grade.
Alex became interested in geography at age three. After riding in a car, he could draw a road map that showed his route. He prepared for the Bee by poring over geography books and atlases. His father also helped him train for the competition.
Alex says it’s important for contestants to have self-confidence and determination. “Persistence paid off. You just have to keep trying until you make it. I did it for four years, and I finally won.” In addition to his U.S.$25,000 college scholarship, Alex also won a lifetime membership in the National Geographic Society.
Winning question: Asia’s most densely populated country has about three million people and an area of less than 250 square miles (402 square kilometers). Name this country.
Answer: Singapore
Photograph by Mark Thiessen
State and Territory Champions
Alabama
Ryan Confer,
Randolph Middle School, Huntsville
Alaska
Michael Hart,
Soldotna Middle School,
Soldotna
American Samoa
Leonard Hyman,
South Pacific Academy,
Pago Pago
Arizona
Aaron Linderman,
McKemy Middle School,
Tempe
Arkansas
Jonathan VerHoeven,
schooled at home,
Springdale
California
Gavin Skram,
Teel Middle School,
Empire
Colorado
Jeff Russell,
Powell Middle School,
Littleton
Connecticut
Tim Courchaine,
John F. Kennedy Middle School,
Enfield
Delaware
Damini Ogunnaike,
schooled at home,
Hockessin
Department of Defense Dependents Schools
Timothy Fargen,
Würzburg American Middle School,
Würzburg, Germany
District of Columbia
Joey Cotruvo,
St. Anselm’s Abbey School,
Washington, D.C.
Florida
Carlos Grenier,
Arvida Middle School,
Miami
Georgia
Ben Graber,
Kittredge Magnet School,
Atlanta
Guam
Jason Espiritu,
St. Anthony School,
Tamuning
Hawaii
Darlene Dela Cruz,
Kalakaua Intermediate School,
Honolulu
Idaho
Victor McFarland,
Lakes Middle School,
Coeur d’Alene
Illinois
Chris Schiro,
St. James School,
Belvidere
Indiana
Robby Schrum,
Taft Junior High School,
Crown Point
Iowa
Amy Nugteren,
Pella Christian Grade School,
Pella
Kansas
Redha Elminyawi,
Dwight D. Eisenhower Middle School,
Manhattan
Kentucky
Louis Burnoski,
Crosby Middle School,
Louisville
Louisiana
Keith Maddox,
Riverdale Middle School,
Jefferson
Maine
Jason Moreau,
Glenburn Middle School,
Glenburn
Maryland
Pablo Ruiz,
Eastern Middle School,
Silver Spring
Massachusetts
Jamie Kettleson,
Central Middle School,
Quincy
Michigan
Petko Peev,
Forest Hills Central Middle School,
Grand Rapids
Minnesota
Dan Weber,
St. Therese School,
Deephaven
Mississippi
B.J. Benson,
Tylertown Elementary School,
Tylertown
Missouri
Eapen Thampy,
schooled at home,
Maryland Heights
Montana
Phillip Bloom,
Will James Middle School,
Billings
Nebraska
Justin Mosel,
Orchard Public School,
Orchard
Nevada
Chris Young,
Greenspun Junior High School,
Henderson
New Hampshire
Morgan Brown,
Walpole Elementary School,
Walpole
New Jersey
T.J. Brazda,
Martin J. Ryerson School,
Ringwood
New Mexico
Gulliver Hughes,
schooled at home,
Albuquerque
New York
Deepak Kollali,
Mildred E. Strang Middle School,
Yorktown Heights
North Carolina
Michael Mueller,
Aycock Middle School,
Greensboro
North Dakota
Aaron Shreve,
Mandan Junior High School,
Mandan
Northern Mariana Islands
Brian Dans,
Grace Christian Academy,
Navy Hill
Ohio
Matt Bowshier,
Washington Middle School,
Washington Courthouse
Oklahoma
Jamison McDonald,
MacArthur Junior High School,
Lawton
Oregon
Kevin Samuels,
Portland Jewish Academy,
Portland
Pennsylvania
Jonathan Squibb,
Lamberton Middle School,
Carlisle
Puerto Rico
Jason Borschow,
St. John’s School,
San Juan
Rhode Island
Ben Terry,
St. Luke School,
Barrington
South Carolina
Jonathan Hess,
Irmo Middle School,
Columbia
South Dakota
Megan Storm,
Yankton Middle School,
Yankton
Tennessee
Josh Bergen,
schooled at home,
Brighton
Texas
Vivek Kasinath,
Keystone School,
San Antonio
Utah
Adam Stoddard,
South David Junior High School,
Bountiful
Vermont
Robby Wetzler,
Rutland Middle School,
Rutland
Virgin Islands
Urdley Smith,
Ulla F. Muller Elementary School,
St. Thomas
Virginia
Dennis Bakke,
Rivendell School,
Arlington
Washington
Alex Kerchner,
Kamiakin Junior High School,
Kirkland
West Virginia
Daniel Harris,
St. Agnes Middle School,
Charleston
Wisconsin
Steve Sreckovic,
South Milwaukee Middle School,
South Milwaukee
Wyoming
Paul McVey,
East Junior High School,
Casper
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