The Kane County Regional Office of Education (ROE) was host to the annual Kane County Spelling Bee Final at Thompson Middle School in (St. Charles) District 303 March 15, where eight students from various Kane County elementary and middle schools competed for the title of Kane County Spelling Bee champion.
Participants were the following:
• Akhil Peddhapati, Elgin Academy;
• Andrew Taing, St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School;
• Caroline Hernandez, Jewel Middle School, West Aurora District 129;
• Francis Nnodi, St. Catherine of Sienna Elementary School;
• Kaelyn McGreer, Kaneland John Stewart Elementary;
• Maelie Schroeder, Immanuel Lutheran School;
• Nora Perdue, Hoover Wood Elementary School;
• Tyler Hunger, Holy Angel School.
The competition was intense and the students made their way through a series of challenging words, ranging from commonly misspelled words to more obscure terms. The students’ performances were outstanding and they displayed their knowledge of spelling rules and techniques in a high-pressure environment.
After several rounds of spelling, the field of competitors was narrowed to the top three finalists. In third place was Tyler Hunger from Holy Angel School, in second place was Maelie Schroeder from Immanuel Lutheran School, and taking the title of Spelling Bee champion was Francis Nnodi from St. Catherine of Sienna Elementary School, who won by spelling the word adhesion.
Patricia Dal Santo, regional superintendent at Kane County ROE, praised the students for their hard work and dedication. He said, “The Spelling Bee is a fantastic opportunity for students to showcase their spelling skills and build their confidence. We are proud of all the participants and their accomplishments.”
As the first place winner, Nnodi has the option to attend the Scripps National Spelling Bee finals in Maryland during Memorial Day Week.
The Kane County Spelling Bee finals is an annual event that celebrates academic achievement and encourages students to excel in their studies. Congratulations to all the participants, and a special congratulations to the Spelling Bee champion, Francis Nnodi!
—Kane County Regional Office of Education