8th National Geographic Bee

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8th National Geographic Bee (1996) — a quick, easy-to-understand summary

The 8th National Geographic Bee took place in Washington, D.C., on May 29, 1996. It was sponsored by the National Geographic Society, and the final was hosted by Alex Trebek of Jeopardy!.

Champion: Seyi Fayanju, a 12-year-old from Verona, New Jersey, who attended Henry B. Whitehorne Middle School. He won a $25,000 college scholarship.

Second place: Ryan Bean, from Augusta, Maine, who won $15,000.

Third place: Matthew Conway, from El Reno, Oklahoma, who won $10,000.

Contestants: 57.

1996 State Champions (sample list)
- Maine — Ryan Bean (8th grade, Buker Middle School, Augusta) — Second place at nationals
- Michigan — Petko Peev (6th grade, Forest Hills Central Middle School, Grand Rapids)
- New Jersey — Seyi Fayanju (7th grade, Henry B. Whitehorne Middle School, Verona) — 1996 State Champion
- Oklahoma — Matthew Conway (Etta Ball Junior High School, El Reno) — Third place at nationals
- Pennsylvania — John McElhenney (Greenville) — Top 10 finalist
- Rhode Island — Paul Ring — Top 10 finalist
- Texas — Paul Benson (Sugar Land) — Top 10 finalist
- Virginia — Nathaniel Carr (Luray) — Top 10 finalist
- Washington — Alex Kerchner (Kamiakin Junior High School, Kirkland) — Top 10 finalist (fourth place)
- Wisconsin — Vishnu Bhakta — Top 10 finalist
- Wyoming — Patrick Smith — Top 10 finalist

This version keeps the key facts in simple language and omits extra details.