Even with the increased use of autocorrect, the Spelling Bee stands strong as one of our nation’s oldest and most iconic competitions since 1925. In the past several months, thousands of Kane County students have participated in local spelling bees for the opportunity to compete at the national level.

The competition has been fierce, and eight “un-bee-lievable” students have qualified to compete in the Kane County Spelling Bee Final for a spot at the Scripps National Spelling Bee.  The Kane County final takes place at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 15, at the Regional Office of Education, 28 N. First St., Geneva.

From left to right: St. Charles Borromeo Student Minh Nguyen, Dundee Middle School Student Alexander Zhuang, Glenbrook Elementary Student Gurshaan Singh, and Hampshire Middle School Student Nathan Weber.

From left to right: Wredling Middle School Student Janina Mangulabnan, Holy Cross Catholic School Student Benjamin Fender, Jewel Middle School Student Ryan Moneze, and Our Lady of Good Council Student Marc Apigo

For making it to this level, the eight students will be awarded a certificate, the book “Feed Me Words” from the Regional Office of Education, and gift cards to Chick-Fil-A in Batavia. The top two students will be awarded various additional prizes, with the top two being awarded a $1,000 academic scholarship from the Kane Excellence in Education Partnership.

Sponsored by the Dunham Fund and the Kane Excellence in Education Partnership, the winner and their family will be flown to Washington, D.C., to compete in the National Spelling Bee from May 28 to June 4, 2017. During the week, they will tour the United States Capitol, enjoy an awards banquet, and join the competition for a chance to be crowned the 90th champion of the National Spelling Bee.

Funding for the Kane County Spelling Bee would not have been possible without the Kane ROE’s many local sponsors. The Regional Office of Education is appreciative of the generosity of the following organizations:

About the Kane County Regional Office of Education

Led by Regional Superintendent of Schools Patricia Dal Santo, the Kane County ROE is located in Geneva and serves nine school districts. From teacher licensure assistance to professional development, the ROE’s mission is to advocate for education, provide leadership and perform regulatory functions. Learn more about the ROE’s offerings on Facebook, Twitter and by signing up for the semimonthly newsletter.