Tkaczyk wins geography bee

Zoe Tkaczyk, an eighth-grade student at Grace Christian Academy in Minden, won the school-level competition of the National Geographic Bee on Jan. 9 and a chance at a $50,000 college scholarship.

The competition was the first round in the 26th annual event, sponsored by Google. School winners will take a written test. Up to 100 of the top scorers on the test in each state will be eligible to compete in a state event April 4 in Las Vegas.

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 national championship rounds May 19-21. The first-place national winner will receive a $50,000 college scholarship, a lifetime membership in the Society and a trip to the Galapagos Islands.

Bryant makes Saint Mary’s University dean’s list

Kathleen Bryant of Carson City was named to the fall 2013 dean’s list at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.

The list includes 341 undergraduate students who earned a grade-point average of 3.60 or better on a 4.0 scale. Bryant is the daughter of Christeen Allara.