An eastern Iowa boy is in the nation’s capitol today (Tuesday) and tomorrow representing the Hawkeye State in the National Geographic Bee. Question: Seventy-percent unemployment and a severe fuel shortage have virtually paralyzed economic activity in which country east of Botswana? The answer: Zimbabwe. That’s the kind of question that sent this batch of 4th through 8th graders to the big Bee in D.C.
Iowa’s contender is Drew Coffin, a student at Northwest Junior High in Coralville. The 7th grader beat out all of the state’s other young geographers for a trip to Washington and a shot at a 25-thousand dollar scholarship.