JACKSON TEEN COMPETING IN STATEWIDE GEOGRAPHY BEE

Jackson's own Mark Green has been chosen to compete in the National Geographic Geography Bee on Friday at the University of Missouri at Columbia. In addition to the honor of competing and representing Jackson Middle School, all students competing will receive a t-shirt and certificate.

If Mark wins, he will be eligible to compete again on May 22-23 at the National Geographic Society in Washington, D.C. The top prize of a $25,000 college scholarship and lifetime membership in the National Geographic Society is enticing to a boy of 13 who likes geography anyway.

The National Geographic Society created this competition in 1989 with the main objective of reawakening the nation's interest in geography and giving students sound knowledge in geography in order to prepare for their future role when they become responsiblecitizens.

Mark said he has not travelled alot, nor does he particiularly care to. His interests lie in computers. At school he'd like to have more computer activities available. He gets good grades and isn't bored at school.

Mark believes he's receiving a good education at Jackson MiddleSchool and with the help of teachers like Cheryl Hanschen, his social studies teacher, Betty Meyer, who has offered sample questions, and Dan Stover, the geography bee coordinator, he believes he has an excellent chance at winning.

If Mark makes it to the national level, he will receive $100 and other prizes, along with an all-expenses paid trip to Washington with a teacher escort for theMay 22-23 finals. Stover, the geography bee coordinator, is willing to be that escort.

Stover said he may bring along a few good maps to read. Stover, a social studies teacher for twenty four years, shared his unusual hobby of reading maps, rather than books.

Of course, Mark is a little nervous about the competiton. He plans to study his atlas, a gift from Christmas. He's also practicing quick responses, because he will only have 15 seconds to answer in the bee.