During the competition, sixth-grader Rujva Patel won the Ohio part of the spelling bee with the correct spelling of the word “Bromatium.” Patel is a student at Cherokee Elementary School in Liberty Twp.
“It feels great,” she said after the win. “I’ve been practicing for a while and working very hard.”
Patel said she studied vigorously for the regional bee and that her family was excited to help her with her spelling journey. Her mother said other than homework and playing volleyball, Rujva was focused on preparing for the bee.
In the Indiana and Northern Kentucky part of the spelling bee, seventh grader George Weghorst clinched the win with the correct spelling of the word “Fardel.” Weghorst is a student at Highlands Middle School in Fort Thomas.
“It feels great. I feel fortunate to win,” Weghorst said. “There are great school spelling bee winners here, and I’m just excited to go to nationals.”
George’s mother said ever since he won his school spelling bee in the fourth grade, he’s had a goal to make it to nationals.
“(We’re) super proud of his effort and what he wanted to do to make this happen,” she said.
To prepare for the national bee, Weghorst told us he’s going to “keep doing what I’ve been doing — working hard.”
Preliminary rounds for the 100th Scripps National Spelling Bee will begin Tuesday, May 27, with the finals taking place Thursday, May 29. More than 200 spellers across the country will travel to the Washington D.C. area for a chance to compete in the competition.
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