Home state: Michigan

Grade level: Eighth

After representing Michigan for three years in a row (1996, 1997, and 1998), Petko Peev won the 1998 Bee on May 20, 1998, at National Geographic headquarters.

This 13-year-old Forest Hills Central Middle School student was born in Bulgaria. He now lives in Grand Rapids and lists his favorite sports as tennis and soccer.

In addition to his U.S. $25,000 college scholarship, Petko also won a lifetime membership in the National Geographic Society.

Winning question: More than 80 million people live in the European Union’s most populous member country. Name this country.

Answer: Germany

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