Caden Alexander, an eighth-grade student from Hannah Beardsley Middle School, will be competing in the 2019 Illinois National Geographic State Geography Bee Competition. After winning his class and school geography bees, Alexander submitted a qualifying test to the National Geographic Society. He was among the top 100 highest-scoring students in Illinois, qualifying him to advance to the state competition. As a sixth grader, Alexander won his class geography bee and took second place in the school competition.