Joseph Luchsinger, a seventh-grade student from South Berwick, won the Maine Geography Bee on Friday at the University of Maine at Farmington. The bee is sponsored by National Geographic. Luchsinger is presented with an early admission letter to UMF by President Kathryn Foster based on his finishing high school and meeting UMF admission standards, she said. A total of 105 students from across Maine competed. First runner-up was Haden Buzzell of Newfield, and second runner-up was Greyson Orne of Camden.

Winners of the Maine Geographic Bee on Friday at the University of Maine at Farmington are, from left, second runner-up Greyson Orne of Camden, Haden Buzzell of Newfield and Joseph Luchsinger of South Berwick. Students and families gathered to watch eight preliminary rounds of the National Geographic Bee, which led to 10 top finalists which included Jackson Joyce of Farmington, Teddy Conway of North Yarmouth, Luke Sekera-Flanders of Fryeburg, Michael Jones of Naples, Conor McPherson of Kittery, Evan Lucca of Yarmouth and Devon Hunter of Orrington. 

The top 10 finalists out of 105 students in grades four through eight who competed in the Maine Geographic Bee on Friday at the University of Maine at Farmington. Pictured in no particular order are winner Joseph Luchsinger of South Berwick, Haden Buzzell of Newfield, first runner-up; Greyson Orne of Camden, second runner-up;  Jackson Joyce of Farmington, Teddy Conway of North Yarmouth, Luke Sekera-Flanders of Fryeburg, Michael Jones of Naples, Conor McPherson of Kittery, Evan Lucca of Yarmouth and Devon Hunter of Orrington.