Plot Synopsis

Each year since 1989, the National Geographic Society has hosted a national geography competition for students in the United States, as fourth through eighth graders vie for the grand prize: a $50,000 scholarship, lifetime membership to the National Geographic Society and a trip for two to the Galapagos Islands. More than 4 million students from across the country take a written test, with 100 school winners then competing at the state level. Each state and territory sends a single student to Washington D.C. for a two-day competition. On the first day, 45 students are eliminated, leaving 10 finalists who compete on the second day. The final round, moderated by Alex Trebek for the first 25 years of the GEO BEE and Soledad O'Brien (2014 & 2015) and Mo Rocca (2016-Present) since, is televised, and the top three students are awarded prizes. In addition to first prize, third place receives a $10,000 scholarship and second place scores a $25,000 scholarship.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On Friday, May 19, 2017, GEO BEE 2017 premiered on Nat Geo and Nat Geo Wild from 8-9pm ET/PT, showing the competition between the 10 finalists. The finals, which took place two days earlier, was moderated by Mo Rocca, marking his second year as moderator.