After 18 rounds, two students came out on top at the annual Depew Middle School Spelling Bee.
Twenty middle school students gathered in the high school auditorium for the competition, with their classmates and loved ones watching from the audience.
In the end, eighth-grader Selena P. was crowned the 2025 Spelling Bee Champion when she spelled the word “flailed” correctly. In second place was seventh grader, Margarita V.
Selena was awarded a plaque and a $100 Visa gift card. Margarita also received a plaque and a $50 Visa gift card.
Sixth-grade teacher Mr. Pat Uhteg served as pronouncer, while the judges were middle school teachers Mrs. Melissa Pilon, Mrs. Leah Robinson and Mr. Don Teresa.
The program was coordinated by seventh-grade teacher, Mr. Sal Carlino.
The other contestants were Jackson B., Rabby B., Caiden B., De’Mario B., Torryn B., Izabella B., Cross C., Jenna D., Ashley E., Carson H., Nicholas K., Mason N., Cameron N., Kendall P., Braydon E., Ananya V. and Cameron W.
Selena and Margarita will now have the chance to compete in the Regional Spelling Bee, with a chance to move on to the Scripps National Spelling Bee this spring in Washington D.C.
If you missed it, the video of the event is here: https://events.locallive.tv/events/165929