Skip to content

Saint John’s Prep Matthew Bolton Heading to National Geographic State Bee

Saint John’s Prep seventh grader Matthew Bolton is heading to the state geography competition in Manakato. Matthew was Named National Geographic State Bee Semifinalist by National Geographic Society. Matthew Bolton has been named by the National Geographic Society that he is one of the semifinalists eligible to compete in the 2017 Minnesota National Geographic State Bee. The contest will be held at Mankato State University on Friday, March 31, 2017. Congratulations Matthew!

Matthew Bolton with Principal Pam McCarthy

Matthew is the son of Aaron and Nicole Bolton of Sartell. This is Matthew’s third year taking part in the competition and second trip to the state bee.

The competitions start in schools with fourth- through eighth-grade students throughout the state. Each school determines its own champion. School champions then take an online qualifying test. From there they compete in a regional bee and then qualifying students are sent on to the state bee.

Each state champion will receive $100, the National Geographic book “The National Parks: An Illustrated History” and a medal, and will journey to Washington, D.C., to represent their state in the National Geographic Bee Championship at National Geographic Society headquarters in May. The national champion will receive a $50,000 college scholarship and lifetime membership in the National Geographic Society.The National Geographic Society will next invite 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.

Matthew Bolton

The national champion will also travel (along with one parent or guardian), all expenses paid, on an all expenses paid Lindblad expedition to the Galápagos Islands aboard the new National Geographic Endeavour ll.
The national champion will also receive a $50,000 college scholarship, a lifetime membership in the Society and a lifetime subscription to National Geographic magazine. Visit www.natgeobee.org for more information on the National Geographic Bee.

Founded in 1857, Saint John’s Prep is a Catholic/Benedictine, co-ed, private day and boarding school, providing students of all faiths in grades 6-12, with a college-preparatory curriculum. Visit Prep at the Spring Discovery Day on April 7, 2017. For more information, visit www.sjprep.net or call 320-363-3315.