Brooke Danz, a fifth-grader from Riverwood Elementary School in McHenry, Illinois, battled both a bad cold and challenging words to become the McHenry County Spelling Bee champion. Brooke zipped through 31 rounds and finally spelled "topeng" to win the title and a trip to the national finals.
Samhita Kumar, a seventh-grader from Winston Churchill Middle School in Carmichael, California, correctly spelled "osphresis" to earn a repeat trip to Washington, D.C., where she will once again try to advance to the Finals. She is the two-time champion of the California Central Valley Spelling Bee, sponsored by The Sacramento Bee newspaper.
Wait till you hear the Buzz from the Bee!! There are trophies in the house!
Iann Leigh, an eighth-grader at James F. Doughty School in Bangor, Maine, remained humble even though his winning word at the Penobscot County Spelling Bee was “braggadocio.” He said he was excited to win and earn a trip to the national finals. He competed with 34 other spellers in the four-hour-long contest at Husson University.
Brady Hughes is the Cass County Spelling Bee champion. Brady is a sixth-grader in the Pleasant Hill School District. After 12 rounds of words, he spelled “lithe” to win. He has luck on his side, coming from Peculiar, Missouri, where the town motto is, "Where the 'odds' are with you."
Vasundara Govindarajan, an eighth-grader at Frank C. Martin International K-8 Center in southwest Miami-Dade, Florida, is enjoying her fourth consecutive win in the Miami-Dade Bee. This year, she won in the 12th round, with “escadrille.” She says she's read the dictionary cover to cover. She was inspired by her brother, who competed twice in the national finals.
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.