Utah's entrant in the 2nd annual National Geography Bee didn't find the promised land in the preliminary round Wednesday, finishing 53rd out of 57 contestants.
But that still makes James Wingate, 14, an eighth-grader at Northwest Intermediate School in Salt Lake City's Rose Park, among the best of the more than 3 million students ages 11-14 nationwide who participated in various levels of the bee.Wingate was also able to enjoy an expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., he received for winning the State Geography Bee.
That included a trip on an Amtrak train Wednesday to National Geographic Society headquarters near Gaithersburg, Md.
Students in the preliminary round Wednesday were divided into five groups. The top two scorers from each advanced to the final game-showlike round, which was to be hosted Thursday by "Jeopardy!" TV show host Alex Trebek.
Wingate is an Eagle Scout and a basketball player. He likes camping, wants to visit Brazil and plans to be a geography teacher.