WELLS — Eighth grader Matt Chase vividly remembers the question that knocked him out of the state geography bee in sixth grade.

“It was Iran ”“ about the Straits of Hormuz,” he said.

Chase was vindicated two years later, and is now off to Washington, D.C. to compete in the National Geo Bee from May 11 to 13. The event will be televised on the National Geographic Channel during the last day of competition.

Matt’s teacher at Wells Junior High School, Bonnie Dill, who encouraged him to participate in the Geo Bee, said his talent was apparent when she first met him. At the beginning of school, Dill gave Matt a copy of all the quizzes for the year and he passed them all.

“He came into sixth grade knowing everything I needed to teach the rest of the kids ”“ I had to think, what could we do to provide Matt with some enrichment?” Dill said.

Dill eventually decided to allow him to look over other resources in the room while she taught geography to the other students, but says that Matt has grown in his understanding of geography.

“Starting in sixth-grade, it’s grown beyond maps and to people and culture. He’s getting a more global view,” Dill said.

Matt’s mother Sophia Chase said she is enormously proud of all that Matt has accomplished. Matt was diagnosed with autism at age 2, and receives additional support outside of the classroom.

“I want to bring forth the idea that, with a lot of intervention, (students with autism) can reach a potential that some people might not think possible,” Sophia Chase said. “With autism, you basically (realize) you take a lot of basic tasks for granted.”

Matt himself likes the competition, though he said he does get a little nervous the day beforehand. Ultimately he hopes to use his knowledge to be a world-traveler.

“My favorite thing about geography (is that) I want to go to all those places; maybe I’d like to go to Paris,” Matt Chase said when asked where he’d go first.

His knack has put him in competition for some serious prizes. According to the National Geographic website, “The winner receives a $50,000 scholarship, a lifetime subscription to National Geographic magazine, a Galápagos trip, and $500 cash. The second place winner receives a $25,000 scholarship and $500 cash. The third place winner receives a $10,000 scholarship and $500 cash. The forth through 10th place winners receive $500 cash each.”

Beyond that, his mother says that the experience itself will be enjoyable.

“There’s bowling, they all room together; it’s a great experience,” Sophia Chase said.