Schools
Georgia Spelling Bee Finalists Named, Set To Compete For Top Prize
Whoever wins the state contest will move on to represent Georgia in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in May in Washington, D.C.
GEORGIA — Twenty spelling bee finalists will be buzzing into Georgia State University Friday to compete in the Georgia Association of Educators' 62nd State Spelling Bee.
The finalists are from various counties across the Peach State and will be representing their school for a chance to eventually spell on the main stage in Washington, D.C.
The spelling bee will be held at 11 a.m. at Georgia State University’s Student Center’s Senate Ballroom.
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According to the association, whoever wins the state contest will be crowned champion and will move on to represent Georgia in the Scripps National Spelling Bee, scheduled for May 28-June 2.
The candidates for the statewide spelling bee are comprised of winners and runners-up from GAE's nine regions and the Georgia Independent School Association, listed as the following:
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| Bee Region/System | Name | Grade/School | Age |
| 1 W/ Walker | Emma Edgeworth | 8/ Saddle Ridge Middle | 14 |
| 1 R/ Whitfield | Lucy Brown | 8/ Valley Point Middle | 13 |
| 2 W/ Hall | Andrew Boyd | 8/ North Hall Middle | 14 |
| 2 R/ Forsyth | Yazhini Murugan | 5/ Mashburn Elementary | 10 |
| 3 W/ Gwinnett | Anusha Chavar | 5/ Riverside Elementary | 10 |
| 3 R/ Gwinnett | Sriniket Nuthalapati | 8/ North Gwinnett Middle | 13 |
| 4 W/ Atlanta | Grayson Trawick | 8/ KIPP STRIVE Academy | 13 |
| 4 R/ DeKalb | Abhiroop Banerjee | 5/ Vanderlyn Elementary | 11 |
| 5 W/ Fayette | Matthew Baber | 7/ Rising Star Middle | 13 |
| 5 R/ Clayton | Uwarre Olaye | 5/ Morrow Elementary | 11 |
| 6 W/ Houston | Mishon Hyacinthe-Bynes | 8/ Northside Middle | 13 |
| 6 R/ Muscogee | Sonali Sahai | 7/ Richards Middle | 12 |
| 7 W/ Columbia | Sai Lakkimsetti | 8/ Stallings Island Middle | 13 |
| 7 R/ Clarke | Andreas Dillies | 8/ Clarke Middle | 13 |
| 8 W/ Chatham | Peniel Nti | 5/ Southwest Elementary | 11 |
| 8 R/ Tattnall | Joseph Banks | 8/ North Tattnall Middle | 13 |
| 9 W/ Irwin | Rhiana Escobar | 8/ Irwin County Middle | 14 |
| 9 R/ Valdosta City | Wynter Lawson | 7/Valdosta Early College Academy | 13 |
| GISA W/ Martinez | Ayanna Khiani | 7/ Augusta Prep Day School | 12 |
| GISA R/ Mt. Berry | Nina Mayer | 8/ Berry College Middle | 14 |
“We at GAE consider all 20 of these students champions. We congratulate them, as well as their families and supporters, who have given so much of their time to help put them in the position to become a state champion," Lisa Morgan, GAE president, said in a news release.
"We also want to congratulate all of our state's students who participated beginning with their classroom and school level bees. The spelling bees provide students with an opportunity to engage in academic competition, increase their levels of sportsmanship and enjoy their participation along the way."
The Bee's judges will be as follows:
- Miriam Green - special education English, Sequoyah High School, Cherokee County
- Linda Hitchcock - retired educator, scienc, West Bainbridge Middle School, Decatur County
- Alan Hochbaum - math special education teacher, Stripling Elementary, Gwinnett County
- David Muschell - retired educator, English department of Georgia College, Milledgeville
- Cheryl Sarvis - retired principal, Atlanta Public Schools
- Kathy Sinclair - investigator, Bartow County Sheriff’s Office, Cartersville
- Cora Tallant - employee engagement and HR lead at UrbanTrans
- Adam Waxman - CEO, Onepath, LLC
Rev. Greg Tallant of Holy Trinity Parish in Decatur and Prof. Sara T. Cushing of Georgia State will be callers/consultants.
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