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• Eric Yang was a thirteen-year-old seventh-grade student when he won the National Geographic Bee on May 20, 2009 in Washington, D.C. According to National Geographic, it was their most difficult Bee to date but the Texas teenager had a perfect score as he captured the title during a tie-breaker round.National Geographic: Hardest National Geographic Bee (May 20, 2009)

  For winning the annual competition, Yang received a $25,000 college scholarship, a lifetime membership in the National Geographic Society, and a trip to the Galapagos Islands.Dallas News: On the Spot in Geographic Bee Finals (May 20, 2009) Yang and his family will appear on the Today show on May 21, 2009.

• Fast Facts

  1. May 2009: 13-years old
  2. Attends Griffin Middle School in The Colony, TX
  3. Born in SingaporeDallas News: On the Spot in Geographic Bee Finals (May 20, 2009)
  4. Moved to Texas with his family when he was a toddlerDallas News: On the Spot in Geographic Bee Finals (May 20, 2009)
  5. Won the 2009 National Geographic Bee; one of ten finalistsNational Geographic: Hardest National Geographic Bee (May 20, 2009)
  6. The finals were moderated by [[Jeopardy!]] host Alex Trebek
  7. The final round of the Bee was held at the National Geographic Society in Washington, D.C.
  8. His parents and his brother traveled with him for the competitionDallas News: On the Spot in Geographic Bee Finals (May 20, 2009)
  9. Linda Krause and Ellen Wandtke, Griffin school district representatives, accompanied him to the BeeSCNTX: Student Wins National Geographic Bee (May 20, 2009)
  10. May 21, 2009: Will appear with his family on the Today showSCNTX: Student Wins National Geographic Bee (May 20, 2009)
  11. May 26, 2009: A pep rally scheduled on his behalf at his middle schoolSCNTX: Student Wins National Geographic Bee (May 20, 2009)

• Winning Question

  Eric Yang won the 2009 National Geographic Bee when he correctly answered the third question of a tiebreaker round. The question was:

  • "Timis County shares its name with a tributary of the Danube and is located in the western part of which European country?"
  • Yang's correct answer: "Romania"KVIA: Texas Teen Wins National Geography Bee (May 20, 2009)

• National Geographic Bee

  • 1989: Annual competition began as a "response to the lack of geographic knowledge among young Americans"National Geographic: Hardest National Geographic Bee (May 20, 2009)
  • The ten finalists were allowed two mistakes eachNational Geographic: Hardest National Geographic Bee (May 20, 2009)
  • Finalist questions were highlighted by live animal appearances that related to the questionNational Geographic: Hardest National Geographic Bee (May 20, 2009)
  • The 2009 Bee began with 55 contestants between fourth and eighth gradeNational Geographic: Hardest National Geographic Bee (May 20, 2009)
  • The 55 contestants defeated approximately five million students in state competitions to earn a place in the national championshipsNational Geographic: Hardest National Geographic Bee (May 20, 2009)
  • The competitors included children from 50 states, in addition to Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the U.S. Pacific territories, the Department of Defense Dependent Schools, and Washington, D.CNational Geographic: Hardest National Geographic Bee (May 20, 2009)

• Related Pages on Mahalo

  National Geographic | Galapagos Islands | Texas | The Today Show | Romania | Danube | Europe | Puerto Rico

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