The 9th National Geographic Bee was held in Washington, D.C., on May 28, 1997, sponsored by the National Geographic Society. The final competition was moderated by Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek. The winner was Alex Kerchner of Kamiakin Junior High School in Kirkland, Washington, who won a $25,000 college scholarship. The 2nd-place winner, Steve Sreckovic of South Milwaukee, Wisconsin, won a $15,000 scholarship. The 3rd-place winner, Justin Mosel of Orchard, Nebraska, won a $10,000 scholarship. 1997 State Champions State Winner's Name Grade School City/Town Notes Ryan Confer Randolph Middle School Huntsville Michael Hart Soldotna Middle School Soldotna Leonard Hyman South Pacific Academy Pago Pago Aaron Linderman McKemy Middle School Tempe Top 10 finalist Jonathan VerHoeven schooled at home Springdale Gavin Skram Teel Middle School Empire Jeff Russell Powell Middle School Littleton Tim Courchaine John F. Kennedy Middle School Enfield Top 10 finalist Darlene Dela Cruz Kalakaua Intermediate School Honolulu Victor McFarland Lakes Middle School Coeur d'Alene Robby Schrum Taft Junior High School Crown Point Amy Nugteren Pella Christian Grade School Pella Redha Elminyawi Dwight D. Eisenhower Middle School Manhattan Top 10 finalist Louis Burnoski Crosby Middle School Louisville Keith Maddox Riverdale Middle School Jefferson Jason Moreau Glenburn Middle School Glenburn Pablo Ruiz Eastern Middle School Silver Spring Jamie Kettleson Central Middle School Quincy Petko Peev 7th Forest Hills Central Middle School Grand Rapids Top 10 finalist Won the Michigan State Bee in 1996 Minnesota Dan Weber St. Therese School Deephaven Missouri Eapen Thampy Maryland Heights Top 10 finalist Montana Phillip Bloom Will James Middle School Billings Nebraska Justin Mosel Orchard Public School Orchard Third Place Nevada Chris Young Greenspun Junior High School Henderson New Hampshire Morgan Brown Walpole Elementary School Walpole New Jersey T.J. Brazda Martin J. Ryerson School Ringwood New Mexico Gulliver Hughes Albuquerque Top 10 finalist New York Deepak Kollali 8th Mildred E. Strang Middle School Yorktown Heights Top 10 finalist North Carolina Michael Mueller Aycock Middle School Greensboro Aaron Shreve Mandan Junior High School Mandan Top 10 finalist Matt Bowshier Washington Middle School Washington Courthouse Jonathan Squibb Lamberton Middle School Carlisle South Carolina Jonathan Hess Irmo Middle School Columbia South Dakota Megan Storm Yankton Middle School Yankton Texas Vivek Kasinath Keystone School San Antonio Utah Adam Stoddard South David Junior High School Bountiful Virginia Dennis Bakke Arlington Washington Alex Kerchner 7th Kamiakin Junior High School Kirkland 1997 Champion West Virginia Daniel Harris St. Agnes Middle School Charleston Wisconsin Steve Sreckovic 8th South Milwaukee Middle School South Milwaukee Second Place Wyoming Paul McVey East Junior High School Casper
References
External links National Geographic Bee Official Website