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
Jeff Zheng, a student at Ascension Academy in Amarillo, Texas, is returning to the national finals after a hotly contested regional bee sponsored by the Amarillo Globe-News. Only 15 students were in the final competition and they went through 196 words and lasted 46 rounds. Jeff won by correctly spelling "attachment."
On his third try in a regional bee, Connor Bevan ended the West Tennessee Regional Spelling Bee the way he hoped — as champion. The Lakewood Middle School student took deep breaths to calm his nerves before each word including his winning one, "pilferage." The regional competition in Jackson, Tennessee, is sponsored by Union University,
After 24 rounds and over 200 words, Perry Heights Middle School student Swathi Menon was crowned the Tri-State Spelling Bee champion in Evansville, Indiana. She says taking part in the event last year helped her prepare to win this year. She said, "Just like the adrenaline and the rush of energy, it's great; I'm really excited."
It was a head-to-head battle for 21 rounds before eighth-grader Winston Zuo claimed the 55th annual Orange County Spelling Bee title in California. With it, the Fairmont Private Schools student will return to the national finals for the second time. He spelled "teff" correctly and after the competition said, “It’s a really euphoric feeling.”