Eighth grader Gabriel Rauen named state geography bee semifinalist

Incarnate Word Academy eighth grader Gabriel Rauen has been notified by the National Geographic Society that he is one of the semifinalists eligible to compete in the 2015 Texas Geography Bee after passing a qualifying test.

Google and Plum Creek sponsor the 2015 Texas Geography Bee. The contest will be held at the Pat May Center in Bedford, Texas on Friday, March 27. Gabriel placed first at the IWA Middle Level Geography Bee on Jan. 9. This is his third time to advance to the state geography bee.

“I am thankful to my parents because they have been quizzing me a lot,” Gabriel. He said he was relieved and had his family to thank for his achievement.

In 2013, he was one of the top 27 students with perfect scores at state. In 2014, Gabriel made it through the first eight rounds of the state competition–making it to the main stage. He tied for 12th place before being eliminated.

The National Geographic Society has invited up to 100 of the top-scoring students in each of the 50 states, District of Columbia, Department of Defense Dependents Schools and U.S. territories to compete in the state bees.

Each state champion will receive $100, the “National Geographic Atlas of the World, 10th Edition,” a medal and a trip to Washington, D.C., to represent their state in the National Geographic Bee Championship to be held at National Geographic Society headquarters, May 11-13.

The national champion will receive a $50,000 college scholarship and lifetime membership in the Society. The national champion will also travel (along with one parent or guardian), all expenses paid, to the Galápagos Islands, where he will experience geography firsthand through up-close encounters with the islands’ unique wildlife and landscapes. Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic provide travel for the trip. Visit www.nationalgeographic.com/geobee for more information on the National Geographic Bee.

National Geographic Channel and Nat Geo WILD will air the 2015 National Geographic Bee Championship final round, moderated by award-winning journalist Soledad O’Brien, on Friday, May 15, at 8 p.m. ET. The final round will be aired later on public television stations.