He must compete online because state contest in Madison cancelled

Jack Kedinger, an eighth grader at New London Middle School, won the second level of the National Geographic GeoBee.

The son of William and Colleen Kedinger, he qualified for state competition.

However, due to concerns about the spread of the coronavirus, Kedinger will not be traveling to Madison for the state contest on March 27.

The National Geographic Society has shifted the state level’s format from an in-person contest to one that will be conducted online.

“We are doing this out of an abundance of caution regarding COVID-19, and in order to prioritize the health and safety of everyone who attends our events,” according to an email sent on Friday, March 6, to teachers and parents involved with GeoBee.

“Very sad for Jack, as he has come in second place the last three years and finally got his chance this year,” said Aleah Friemark, a fifth-grade science teacher in New London.

To determine each school champion, GeoBee competitions were held in schools throughout the state with students in the fourth through eighth grades.

This year, an estimated 2.4 million students competed in the GeoBee, with 8,661 students becoming school champions.

Up to 100 of the top-scoring students in each state were invited to compete at the state level.

State champions will receive a medal, $1,000 in cash, and other prizes, as well as a trip to Washington, D.C., to represent their state in the National Championship.

Since students will not be in Madison to compete at the state level, they will take the GeoBee test online.

The student and the GeoBee coordinator must be in the same room when the student is tested and sign a certificate that the rules have been followed.