AUGUSTA — Michelle Guillmette, a senior at Sanford High School, was the first-place winner in the first Maine Citizen Bee state final held April 28 at Gardiner Area High School, according to William Diamond, Maine secretary of state, coordinator of the contest.

Guillmette won the competition in the seventh round by correctly answering the question: The Israeli Parliament voted down the government of Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir on March 15, 1990, after he repeatedly refused to accept a peace plan formulated by what country? Answer: United States.

Placing second was Heather Searles, a senior at Gray-New Gloucester High School. Both students will receive expense-paid trips to Washington to represent Maine in the national finals scheduled Saturday through Wednesday, June 16-20, and savings bonds of $2,000 for first and $1,000 for second places.

Third in the competition was Chris Leclerc of Mount Ararat High School; fourth was Ronnie Hawkins of Lisbon High School; and fifth was Lori Dubois of Bonny Eagle High School.

The five students beat out 21 other students from 26 Maine high schools in several rounds of questions dealing with American history, geography, government, economics, culture and current events.

The bee will be televised at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 24, on WGME-TV, Channel 123, in Portland, and WABI-TV, Channel 5, in Bangor.