Caitlin Snaring of Redmond, Washington, is the new National Geographic Bee champion.
The home schooled eighth grader won by knowing which Vietnamese city, split by a river with the same name, was an imperial capital for more than a century. (Answer: Hue.) Snaring is only the second girl to win the national championship, and the first since 1990.
"I knew that I had the upper hand today," Snaring, who faced off with nine boys to claim the top spot, told National Geographic News.
"I saw every answer in my head."
(Video: Watch the final round.)
Following the competition, she was presented with the first place prize: a $25,000 U.S. college scholarship and lifetime membership in the National Geographic Society.
Suneil Iyer of Kansas battled Snaring through the final round, but finally had to settle for second place and a $15,000 scholarship award.
Mark Arildsen of Tennessee took third place with a $10,000 scholarship.
Sole Survivor
Snaring emerged as the sole survivor out of more than five million fourth to eighth graders who participated in National Geographic Bee competitions nationwide.
Moderated as always by Jeopardy game show host Alex Trebek, the bee finals were held yesterday and today at National Geographic headquarters in Washington, D.C.
(See related: Illinois Eighth Grader Wins National Geographic Bee [May 24, 2007].)
