Marist Student Makes History as Three-Time Georgia Spelling Bee Champ

eighth grader Julia Denniss made history last week as Georgia's first three-time winner of the annual Georgia Association of Educators State Spelling Bee. The 14-year-old Fulton County resident will now represent the state in the Scripps National Spelling Bee Championships in Washington, D.C. on June 1-2.

According to the Georgia Association of Educators Spelling Bee press release, this year's contest was the longest in history with more than 300 words spelled and lasting 42 rounds.

Denniss and 12-year-old Simola Nayak of Henderson Middle School battled back and forth with words such as gambado, sapiential, edacious, hoydenish, ineradicable and macropterous until the 41st round, according to reports. That’s when Simola received the word “bombardier,” but she spelled it incorrectly.

The word was then given to Julia who spelled it correctly. Julia was then given a new word which must be spelled correctly. She was given the word “planisphere,” which she carefully spelled correctly to become the state’s spelling champion once again.

“I am immensely relieved at reaching my goal of winning for a third time,” Denniss said in the statement. “This was a well fought bee. Simola was very challenging and very good.”

Denniss will represent Georgia as one of 275 spellers from across the country to compete for the title of 2011 Scripps National Spelling Bee Champion.

“We are so proud of Julia and her accomplishments, not only this year, but over the past three years, said Marist Assistant Principal Jenni Ellis.  "The entire Marist School community will be rooting for her as she competes at the National Bee in June.”

To purchase tickets to the event, click here.

Those interested in the spelling bee, but unable to travel to Washington to attend the event may watch the semifinals live in ESPN Thursday, June 2 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. EDT and  and championship finals on on ESPN June 2 from 8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.