Nicolas Ruiz of Vienna, a seventh grade student at Trinity School at Meadow View in Falls Church, has qualified to compete in the state National Geographic Bee, sponsored by the National Geographic Society.

The state competition will be held March 30 at Shenandoah University in Winchester.

Ruiz won the school title over 44 other students who competed from Trinity School. School winners throughout Virginia receive a medal and take a written exam from the National Geographic Society. The top 100 scorers on the written exam are chosen to compete in the state contest. Schools and home school associations throughout Virginia participated in the competition. Participants must be in fourth through eighth grade and may not have turned 15 until after September 1, 2011.

The winner from the state competition will go on to the national contest in May. Winners of the National Geographic Bee receive scholarships for $25,000, $15,000 and $10,000.