Cougar Mountain Jr. High seventh and eighth grade students participated in the school's third annual National Geographic Geography Bee in December and January. Ten finalists were selected and those students participated in the final competition on Tuesday, Jan. 9.

Finalists included: Orion Banks, Axel Best, Michael Booth, Ashlea Callicoatt, Michaeline Collins, J.J. Hiblar, EmmaLee Kuhlmann, Brandon Sweatt, Jonathan Troxell, and Matthew Wimmer. Benjamin Olson was an alternate.

After a close competition Michael Booth prevailed in the championship round. The top three were: Michael Booth, Matthew Wimmer and Axel Best.

Each school champion takes a written test upon winning the Bee in their school. One hundred school winners from each state proceed to the state level finals in April, based on their scores on a written test scored by the National Geographic Society.

The winner in each state and territory proceeds to the National Geographic Bee in Washington D.C. for a two-day competition in May.