CAMDEN — Bennet Geis, an eighth student at Camden Rockport Middle School, won the school competition of the National Geographic Bee on January 14. He now has the chance at a $50,000 college scholarship.

Geis sailed through the preliminary, final, and championship rounds of the Geo Bee without missing a single question, according to a news release. He faced stiff competition from eighth grader Jack Morse, who finished second as well as eighth grader Henry Chamberlin and seventh grader Jack Lawrence who tied for third.

The school Bee, at which students answered questions on geography, was the first round in the 27th annual National Geographic Bee.

Thousands of schools around the United States and in the five U.S. territories are participating in the 2015 Bee. The school champions, including Geis, will take a written test; up to 100 of the top scorers on that test in each state will then be eligible to compete in their state Bee on March 27.

The National Geographic Society will provide an all-expenses paid trip to Washington, D.C., for state winners to participate in the Bee national championship rounds May 11-13.

The first-place national champion will receive a $50,000 college scholarship, a lifetime membership in the Society including a subscription to National Geographic magazine, and a trip to the Galápagos Islands, courtesy of Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic.

Journalist Soledad O'Brien will moderate the national finals on May 13. The program will air on television. Check local listings for dates and times.

Everyone can test their geography knowledge with the GeoBee Challenge, an online geography quiz at www.nationalgeographic.com/geobee, which poses 10 new questions a day, or by downloading the National Geographic GeoBee Challenge app, with more than 1,000 questions culled from past Bees.

With a mission to inspire, illuminate and teach, the National Geographic Society is one of the world's largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. The member-supported Society, which believes in the power of science, exploration and storytelling to change the world, reaches more than 600 million people each month through its media platforms, products and events.

National Geographic has funded more than 11,000 research, conservation and exploration projects, and its education programs promote geographic literacy.

For more information, visit www.nationalgeographic.com.