The 9th National Geographic Bee was held in Washington, D.C., on May 28, 1997, sponsored by the National Geographic Society. The final competition was moderated by Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek.[1] The winner was Alex Kerchner of Kamiakin Junior High School in Kirkland, Washington, who won a $25,000 college scholarship.[2] The 2nd-place winner, Steve Sreckovic of South Milwaukee, Wisconsin, won a $15,000 scholarship. The 3rd-place winner, Justin Mosel of Orchard, Nebraska, won a $10,000 scholarship.[3][4][5]
1997 State Champions
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| State | Winner's Name | Grade | School | City/Town | Notes |
Alabama | Ryan Confer | Randolph Middle School | Huntsville |
Alaska | Michael Hart | Soldotna Middle School | Soldotna |
American Samoa | Leonard Hyman | South Pacific Academy | Pago Pago |
Arizona | Aaron Linderman | McKemy Middle School | Tempe | Top 10 finalist |
Arkansas | Jonathan VerHoeven | schooled at home | Springdale |
California | Gavin Skram | Teel Middle School | Empire |
Colorado | Jeff Russell | Powell Middle School | Littleton |
Connecticut | Tim Courchaine | John F. Kennedy Middle School | Enfield | Top 10 finalist |
Hawaii | Darlene Dela Cruz | Kalakaua Intermediate School | Honolulu |
Idaho | Victor McFarland | Lakes Middle School | Coeur d'Alene |
Indiana | Robby Schrum | Taft Junior High School | Crown Point |
Iowa | Amy Nugteren | Pella Christian Grade School | Pella |
Kansas | Redha Elminyawi | Dwight D. Eisenhower Middle School | Manhattan |
Kentucky | Louis Burnoski | Crosby Middle School | Louisville |
Louisiana | Keith Maddox | Riverdale Middle School | Jefferson |
Maine | Jason Moreau | Glenburn Middle School | Glenburn |
Maryland | Pablo Ruiz | Eastern Middle School | Silver Spring |
Massachusetts | Jamie Kettleson | Central Middle School | Quincy |
Michigan | Petko Peev | 7th | Forest Hills Central Middle School | Grand Rapids | Top 10 finalist | Won the Michigan State Bee in 1996 |
| Minnesota | Dan Weber | St. Therese School | Deephaven |
| Missouri | Eapen Thampy | Maryland Heights | Top 10 finalist |
| Montana | Phillip Bloom | Will James Middle School | Billings |
| Nebraska | Justin Mosel | Orchard Public School | Orchard | Third Place |
| Nevada | Chris Young | Greenspun Junior High School | Henderson |
| New Hampshire | Morgan Brown | Walpole Elementary School | Walpole |
| New Jersey | T.J. Brazda | Martin J. Ryerson School | Ringwood |
| New Mexico | Gulliver Hughes | Albuquerque | Top 10 finalist |
| New York | Deepak Kollali | 8th | Mildred E. Strang Middle School | Yorktown Heights | Top 10 finalist |
| North Carolina | Michael Mueller | Aycock Middle School | Greensboro |
North Dakota | Aaron Shreve | Mandan Junior High School | Mandan | Top 10 finalist |
Ohio | Matt Bowshier | Washington Middle School | Washington Courthouse |
Pennsylvania | Jonathan Squibb | Lamberton Middle School | Carlisle |
| South Carolina | Jonathan Hess | Irmo Middle School | Columbia |
| South Dakota | Megan Storm | Yankton Middle School | Yankton |
| Texas | Vivek Kasinath | Keystone School | San Antonio |
| Utah | Adam Stoddard | South David Junior High School | Bountiful |
| Virginia | Dennis Bakke | Arlington |
| Washington | Alex Kerchner | 7th | Kamiakin Junior High School | Kirkland | 1997 Champion |
| West Virginia | Daniel Harris | St. Agnes Middle School | Charleston |
| Wisconsin | Steve Sreckovic | 8th | South Milwaukee Middle School | South Milwaukee | Second Place |
| Wyoming | Paul McVey | East Junior High School | Casper |