In order to

try out for the state competition, students have to win their individual

schools' geographic bees.

The winning

students take a written test to determine if they will advance to the

state level. The National Geographic Society selects the top 100 scorers

from each state.

Four of Georgia's

top scorers are from Fayette County schools: Andrew Wedemyer, J.C. Booth

Middle; Travis Giebler, Fayette Middle; Robin Kittrell, Whitewater Middle;

and Jack Slagle, Spring Hill Elementary.

Fayette's four

state competitors will participate in the state geography bee April 6

at Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville. One winner from

each state will advance to the national competition May 22-23 at the National

Geographic Society headquarters in Washington, D.C.

J.C. Booth

made a special presentation to Wedemyer March 15 in recognition of him

winning the school's geography bee. While his social studies classmates

looked on, teacher Katie Fisher presented Wedemyer with a special plaque

bearing his name as the 2001 geography bee winner for the school.

In addition,

the same plaque was presented to Booth's 2000 winner, Steve Piasta. Principal

Lyn Wenzel also gave Wedemyer a certificate from the National Geographic

Bee honoring him as a state bee competitor.

Wedemyer says

he is preparing for the state bee by studying Mindquest cards, bearing

various geographic information, five minutes each night. Also, he is reading

National Geographic magazine and trying to stay up-to-date on current

events.

"I was

surprised that I made it to the state competition. The questions were

extremely difficult. I think it is just by luck that I got this far,"

says Wedemyer.

While his social

studies teacher Brenda Prebor agrees that advancing to the state and national

competitions do require some luck as far as the type of questions given

to each competitor, she also says that it takes a lot of knowledge on

the part of the student to do well.

"If anyone

has the ability to win at the state bee it is Andrew. He is extremely

intelligent and just a delight to have in class," Prebor adds.

If luck does

play a part, then there might just be a lucky desk in Prebor's social

studies class. Last year Piasta sat in the same desk that Wedemyer does

now.

Although Piasta

did not advance to the nationals last year, Wedemyer and his classmates

are hoping that he will be chosen to compete in the national championship.

However, if he does advance to nationals it could be a bittersweet victory

for Wedemyer. He is also involved in Science Olympiad and national competition

falls on the same day as the one for the geography bee.

"I have

given this a lot of thought. If I have to make a choice, I'm going to

do Science Olympiad," Wedemyer says.

Although history

is one of Wedemyer's favorite subjects, he says he is planning to have

a career in aeronautics and hopes to someday work for NASA.