Spelling Bee

The Greater Grand Rapids Spelling Bee is a Regional bee affiliated with the Scripps National Spelling Bee. The winner wins a trip to compete in the prestigious Scripps National Spelling Bee!

Spelling bees help students improve their spelling, expand their vocabularies, learn language concepts, and develop correct English usage, plus composure under the spotlight, which will help them all of their lives.

2024 Greater Grand Rapids Spelling Bee

Congratulations to Joshua Diocares of Ridge Park Academy for his victory in the 2024 Greater Grand Rapids Spelling Bee. Joshua is an 8th grader who has now won the spelling bee twice! He correctly spelled "diluent" in the final round at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum on March 21.

• 2nd place: Lakhshar Mitra, 7th grade, East Rockford Middle School
• 3rd place: Elliott Covelle, 7th grade, Northern Hills Middle School
• 4th place (tie): Anne Barbutti, 7th grade, Cityside Middle School and Patrick Burch, 7th grade, Black River Public Schools

Joshua will compete at the Scripps National Spelling Bee Finals May 26-30 near Washington, D.C. Photo of Joshua below with Kent ISD Assistant Superintendent Ron Gorman.

2024 Greater Grand Rapids Spelling Bee Participants

• Akram Alshamali, Pinewood Middle School, Kentwood, 6th Grade
• Thrinethra Aravindan, Grandville Middle School, Grandville, 8th Grade
• Emerson Elaine Ashcraft, Newaygo Middle School, Newaygo, 6th Grade
• Anne Barbutti, Cityside Middle School, Zeeland, 7th Grade
• Brady Bowers, North Rockford Middle School, Rockford, 8th Grade
• Patrick Burch, Black River Public School, Holland, 7th Grade
• Elliott Covelle, Northern Hills Middle School, Forest Hills, 7th Grade
• Joshua Diocares, Ridge Park Charter Academy, Kentwood, 8th Grade
• John C. Foster, Immaculate Heart of Mary School, Grand Rapids, 7th Grade
• Tyler Levesque, Kenowa Hills Middle School, Grand Rapids, 7th Grade
• Samantha Lingg-Santos, Barry County Christian School, Hastings, 8th Grade
• Lakhshar Mitra, East Rockford Middle School, Rockford, 7th Grade
• Balamitra Narendran, Discovery Elementary, Kentwood, 4th Grade
• Audra Nielsen, Wayland Union Middle School, Wayland, 6th Grade
• Sakthi Sanjana Santhosh, Walker Charter Academy, Walker, 7th Grade
• Amara Sheffer, Pine Street Elementary, Wayland, 5th Grade
• Archie Trethowan, Wealthy Elementary, Grand Rapids, 4th Grade
• Louise Weeks, Shawmut Hills School, Grand Rapids, 4th Grade

Information and Resources

Scripps National Spelling Bee

Past Spelling Bee Winners