ORONO — Catherine Morse McKenna, a student at John Bapst Memorial High School in Bangor, won the CloseUp Foundation’s Eastern Maine Regional Citizen Bee Competition held March 17 at the University of Maine.

Other winners were: James Monberg, John Bapst Memorial High School, second; Matt Ayer of Bucksport High School, third; Michelle Severance of Lee Academy, Lee, fourth; and James Henry of Brewer High School, fifth.

The five students finished ahead of 18 students from eight high schools in several rounds of questions dealing with American history, politics, government, economics, culture and current events.

Moderator for the event was Senate President Charles P. Pray of Millinocket, and serving as judges were Professor Lynn Nelson of the University of Maine; Dan Elias of WABI-TV, Bangor; and Barbara Bowler of the League of Women Voters of Maine; and Donna Fransen of the Bangor Daily News.

The five students won U.S. Savings Bonds of $500, $300, $100 and $50, respectively. The five winners, with 22 students from 20 other Maine high schools, will advance to the state final April 28 at Gardiner Area High School.

The two top winners in the state final will advance to the national final in Washington, D.C., in June. The Maine Citizen Bee is coordinated by Secretary of State William Diamond and sponsored by Maine Yankee Atomic Power Co., Dexter Shoe, and Shop ‘n Save supermarkets.

Diamond said the competition was designed to encourage students to take more of an interest in our society and in our government.