Justus Black Continues Family's Winning Tradition

By winning the Columbiana County Spelling Bee in Lisbon, Ohio, Justus Black, a sixth-grader from Southern Local Schools, became the fourth member of his family to advance to the Scripps National Spelling Bee. He outlasted his older brother, Silas, who was in the national finals last year. Justus wore his lucky T-shirt on his first try at the regional event, which he won with "rhetoric."

Photo credit: Patti Schaeffer, Salem News

Robert Gorlach Wins at First NC Regional Appearance

Robert Gorlach, an eighth-grade student at Piedmont Community Charter School in Gastonia, North Carolina, won The Gaston Gazette Spelling Bee on his first appearance at the regional level. He clinched the title with two consecutive words: “intensify” and “broaches.” He prepared by reviewing words with his father over the past several months. 

Photo credit: John Clark, The Gaston Gazette

Samhita Kumar Earns Repeat Trip to DC

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. 

Photo credit: Renee C. Byer, The Sacramento Bee

Vasundara Govindarajan Wins Fourth Time in Florida

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. 

Photo credit: Pedro Portal, Miami Herald

Jashun Paluru Makes it a Trio of Indiana Titles

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. 

Photo credit: Mark Bowen, Scripps National Spelling Bee
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