Jashun Paluru of Battle Ground Middle School in West Lafayette, Indiana, won his third straight title when he correctly spelled "portulaca" in the finals of the Administrator Assistance regional bee. The eighth-grader was a strong competitor in his first two appearances on the national stage, finishing 10th in 2016 and 12th in 2017.
Alan Chavez, an eighth-grader at Tatum Middle School will always have the honor of being the first to win the inaugural East Texas Spelling Bee sponsored by The Light and Champion. He received only cheers for his winning word: “condolences.” There were 22 total spellers in the verbal finale.
Atman Balakrishnan, a sixth-grader at Hinsdale Middle School, has the support of his parents and a study buddy in his little brother to encourage him as he heads to the national finals. The Chicago student won the DuPage County competition by correctly spelling "portulaca." His father, Dr. Balu Natarajan, won the Scripps National Spelling Bee in 1985.
After 23 rounds and nearly 200 words, Bristol High School eighth-grader Isabella Pinto was crowned the top speller at the 27th annual Tribune Chronicle Spelling Bee when she correctly spelled “witloof.” Kent State University at Trumbull served as the host, and pledged scholarship money to the top performing finalists.
Emily Fouts, an eighth-grader at Vera C. O’Leary Middle School in Twin Falls, Idaho, is ready for her grand adventure to the nation's capital. She won the fourth annual Times-News regional spelling bee when she spelled “isinglass.” It was a word she knew well thanks to plenty of preparation. It will be her first trip outside of her state.
In Kern County, California, the spelling bee program reached more than 60,000 students and narrowed down to just one — Sydney Cho, a 13-year-old from Norris Middle School. After nearly four hours of fierce competition, Sydney spelled "polities" correctly to win a trip to the national finals, courtesy of the program's sponsor, KERO Channel 23.
Paul Hamrick admitted that this year's Countywide Spelling Bee in Monterey, California, was more difficult than his win in 2017. With the most students competing, the 23-round event was the competition's longest. Paul, an eighth-grade homeschool student, correctly spelled "controversy" to earn a return trip to the national finals.
In her busy schedule, somehow Delaney Mitchell found time to study for the Gazette-Mail Regional Spelling Bee in Charleston, West Virginia. The eighth-grader from Beckley-Stratton Middle School has been dreaming of making it to the national finals since the fourth grade. In addition to being a spelling champ, she is editor of the school newspaper and co-captain of the cross country team.
Augusta County seventh-grader Finn Irving has watched the Scripps National Spelling Bee on TV for years, and never thought he would be on that stage. After spelling "rendezvous," he earned the trip to D.C. as the winner of The Daily Progress Regional Spelling Bee in Charlottesville, Virginia. Finn also likes playing baseball and basketball, and enjoys a good book.
Veena Namboodiri, eighth-grader at South Texas Preparatory Academy in Edinburg, Texas, calmly asked her questions for her championship word, "transmittal." After scribbling the letters on the table, she spelled it correctly to the judges to win the Rio Grande Valley 30th Annual Regional Spelling Bee. She said her sister was a big help in studying every night.
Photo credit: Valley Morning Star