HUDSON – Maxwell Beland, an eighth-grader at Pre­sentation of Mary Academy, was noti­fied by the National Geograph­ic Society that he is one of the semifi­nalists to compete in the National Geographic State Bee.

The contest will be held at Keene State College on Friday, April 1.

Maxwell was the win­ner of the PMA Geogra­phy Bee for all students in grades 4-8. School champi­ons were then required to take an online qualifying test.

Maxwell is ready for the big day.

"I’m excited and have been studying every day," he said.