GREENSBURG - Joe Buening, an eighth grade student at Greensburg Junior High School, won the school-level competition of the National Geographic Bee on Monday and a chance at a $25,000 college scholarship.

The school-level Bee, at which students answered oral questions on geography, was the first round in the 22nd annual National Geographic Bee. This year’s Bee is sponsored by Google.

The kickoff for this year’s Bee was the week of November 9, with thousands of schools around the United States and in the five U.S. territories participating. The school winners, including Buening, will now take a written test; up to 100 of the top scorers in each state will be eligible to compete in their state Bee April 9, 2010.

The National Geographic Society will provide an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., for state champions and teacher-escorts to participate in the Bee national championship rounds on May 25 and 26, 2010. The first-place national winner will receive a $25,000 college scholarship, a lifetime membership in the Society, and a trip to the Galapagos Islands, courtesy of Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic.

“Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebeck will moderate the national finals on May 26. The program will air on television. Check local listings for dates and times.

Everyone can test their knowledge with the new and exciting GeoBee Challenge, an online geography quiz at www.nationalgeographic.com/geobee. The game poses 10 new questions a day.

The National Geographic Society is one of the world’s largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to “increase and diffuse geographic knowledge,” the Society works to inspire people to care about the planet. It reaches more than 370 million people worldwide each month through it official journal, National Geographic, and other magazines; National Geographic Channel; television documentaries; music; radio; films; books; DVDs; maps; exhibitions; live events; school publishing programs; interactive media; and merchandise. National Geographic has funded more than 9,000 scientific research projects and supports an education program promoting geographic literacy. For more information, visit nationalgeographic.com