ABILENE, Kan. – The Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum is hosting two National Geographic student contests. Both the GeoBee Kansas State Competition and Kansas GeoChallenge Regional competition will take place in Abilene on Friday.

Hosting both events is a first for the state of Kansas.

The competition rounds will be held at the Eisenhower Presidential Library, Greyhound Hall of Fame, and St. Andrew’s Parish Hall. All venues are within walking distance of the Eisenhower Presidential Library, 200 SE 4th Street. The Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum is offering free admission all day.

The public is invited to watch the contests as approximately 100 students each compete in the GeoBee and the GeoChallenge competitions. Students are competing for prizes and a chance to advance to national competitions held at the National Geographic Society headquarters in Washington, DC, May 19-22. Additional information is available at NatGeoEd.org.

GeoBee (grades 4-8)

Preliminary rounds: 1:45-3:15 p.m.

Final round: Eisenhower Visitors Center Auditorium at 4 p.m.

The GeoBee competition focuses on knowledge of geography, cultures, physical features, history and earth science.

GeoChallenge (grades 5-8 representing parts of Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Iowa)

Project appraisals: 8:50-11 a.m. (Eisenhower Visitors Center and St. Andrews)

Showcase: 11 a.m.-noon at St. Andrew’s Parish Hall

GeoChallenge is a team project-based competition addressing a critical issue facing the planet. This year’s challenge is tackling plastic. Students investigate the urgent issue of plastic pollution in our waterways. Working in teams, the students design a solution to make an impact.