Two winning stories to share with you this morning, both about local students. First, from 6th-grade teacher Tim Owens at Madison Middle School:

Which Mediterranean country, located at the southern end of the Balkan Peninsula, is Europe’s largest exporter of cotton? This question determined the winner of Madison’s annual Geography Bee. With the correct answer of Greece, sixth grader Owen Yeasting defeated fellow sixth grader Peter Bryson.

Twenty-eight students from all three grades participated in the Bee, which was moderated by sixth grade teacher, Tim Owens. After seven rounds of questions covering both US and global geography, ten students advanced to the final round. These ten students either scored a perfect seven out of seven or missed only one, and they were Allison Nelson, Alexis Johnson, Michael Stewart, Brandon Keller, Ellen Salenjus, Jamal Abdile, Oliver Hamlin, Will Ferrulli, Peter Bryson, and Owen Yeating. These students were asked a series of tough questions, and through a process of elimination, the two sixth grade students advanced to the championship round. Allison Nelson, an eighth grader, was the last of the other eight to be eliminated, securing a third place finish. As the school champion, Owen has an opportunity to go to the state level of the Geography Bee.

The next step is to take a proctored qualifying test. These tests will determine the one hundred students (grades 4-8) around the state who will be invited to the Washington State Geography Bee. Through a similar process, students from around the state will compete to be crowned the Washington State Champion. Interestingly enough, Washington has produced more national Geography Bee champions than any other state.

Madison has a proud history with the Geography Bee and has sent a student to the state level nearly every year over the past decade. Former Madison student Sean Keller placed in the top ten in the state two years in a row (2008-2009). Congratulations to all Madison students who participated in the Geo Bee!

Next, from a news release sent to media outlets by South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor):

An Chu, 27, and 18-year old Kelleen Curtiss, from West Seattle, will be recognized for their academic achievement, leadership, and community service at a ceremony March 25 in Olympia. They are part of a group of students representing the state’s two-year colleges.

The All-Washington Academic Team program has become the showcase for Washington’s community and technical colleges. It honors academic achievers who have demonstrated a commitment to success in the classroom and in the communities in which they live.

An, who already holds a BA in English and Sociology from Ho Chi Minh City Open University in Viet Nam, plans to pursue a four-year business degree and graduate studies in student services. In addition to serving as a Cultural Club Commissioner, she has also been involved with the Vietnamese Student Association, API Advisory Council and as coordinator of the annual Día de los Muertos event. …

Kelleen is a Running Start student, who has already been accepted for entrance fall quarter into the Honors College at WSU, where she plans to study international relations and communications …

An, Kelleen, and their All-Washington Academic teammates will receive a $750 scholarship from Key Bank and the National Education Loan Association (NELA), and are now nominated for the 2010 All-USA Academic Team. Officials from Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for students of two-year colleges, will select students for the All-USA team. For more information on the All-Washington Academic Team and the ceremony, visit www.spscc.ctc.edu/allwa.

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