Southern Lehigh Midddle School Student Wins Regional Spelling Bee

Twenty-four rounds and three hours later, Naomi Li from Southern Lehigh Middle School was named the winner of the 25th Annual Regional Spelling Bee. Held at Lipkin Theater at Northampton Community College, the contest showcased the 61 best spellers in the region. The competition, which is sponsored by the Express-Times, moved to Lipkin Theater five years ago.

"It's a really great event," said Express-Times president and publisher Martin Till. "This was a really exciting year. It was a long [final round]."

Till emceed the evening, introducing the judging panel and occasionally cracking jokes with the students to ease the tension. "Every kid taller than me has to stoop down," said Till.

But the night belonged to the students. Li, who along with Southern Lehigh Intermediate School student Sarah Makin represented the Southern Lehigh School District, made it past words like "carapace" (the outer shell of an animal such as an armadillo or a crab) and "paraph" (the flourish at the end of a signature), but faltered on "fugacity" (a term used in chemical thermodynamics).

However, Li had a chance to redeem herself when the other final two, Jesse Huang from Springhouse Middle School in South Whitehall Township and Aditya Rao, a Lopatcong Middle School fifth-grader from Lopatcong Township, misspelled their final words as well. In accordance with Scripps rules, if all three get the words wrong in the final round, all three get a chance to try again. It took six final rounds before Li took the title on a combination of "manticore" (a mythical creature) and the championship word, "affianced" (to be betrothed).

"I actually studied [affianced]. When I heard it, I was pretty happy," said Li.

Her family shared the sentiment. "She's wanted this for a long time," said her mother, Hongjie Li.  "She's been in the regional spelling bee for the past three years and always been close. We're so proud of her." Li's younger sister, who is at Hopewell Elementary, is also excited about her trip to D.C. "When I go to Washington, I'm going to sleep in a hotel bed...and eat cake!"

Huang, who happens to be a close friend of Li's, came in second, with Rao coming in third.

Even if the students didn't win, it was certainly an experience they won't forget. "This was so much fun," said Makin, who was eliminated midway through the competition on the word "bobadil" (a military braggart). Makin was participating in her first spelling bee and plans on coming back for more. "I definitely will be doing it next year," she said.