17th National Geographic Bee

17th National Geographic Bee
DateMay 25, 2005
LocationWashington, D.C.
WinnerNathan Cornelius
Age13
ResidenceCottonwood, Minnesota
No. of contestants55
Preceded by16th National Geographic Bee
Followed by18th National Geographic Bee

The 17th National Geographic Bee was held in Washington, D.C., on May 25, 2005, sponsored by the National Geographic Society. The final competition was moderated by Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek.[1] The winner was Nathan Cornelius, a homeschooled student from Cottonwood, Minnesota, who won a $25,000 college scholarship and lifetime membership in the National Geographic Society. The 2nd-place winner, Karan Takhar of the Gordon School in East Providence, Rhode Island, won a $15,000 scholarship. The 3rd-place winner, Samuel Brandt of Roosevelt Middle School in Eugene, Oregon, won a $10,000 scholarship.[2]

2005 State Champions

State Winner's Name Grade School City/Town Notes
Florida Jesse Weinberg 8th Coral Gables Top 10 finalist
Illinois Bonny Jain 7th Woodrow Wilson Middle School Moline Top 10 finalist (4th place)
Kansas Benjamin S. Detrixhe 8th Concordia Middle School Concordia Top 10 finalist (7th place) Won the Kansas State Bee in 2001 and 2002
Massachusetts Krishnan Chandra 7th Won the Massachusetts State Bee in 2004
Michigan Jamie Deng 8th East Middle School Canton Top 10 finalist Won the Michigan State Bee in 2003
Minnesota Nathan Cornelius 7th Cottonwood 2005 Champion
Missouri Matthew Thampy St. Peters Top 10 finalist
New Jersey Tejas Raje 8th Princeton Top 10 finalist
Oregon Samuel Brandt 8th Roosevelt Middle School Eugene Third Place
Rhode Island Karan Takhar 8th Gordon school East Providence Second Place
Washington Max Sugarman 7th Pine Lake Middle School Issaquah Top 10 finalist

References

  1. ^ Melody Kramer. "Alex Trebek: On Hosting the National Geographic Bee". National Geographic. Archived from the original on June 17, 2013.
  2. ^ David Braun. "Minnesota Boy Wins 2005 National Geographic Bee". National Geographic News. Archived from the original on May 27, 2005.