Students qualify for regional spelling bee

Nearly 50 North Idaho students have won the right to participate in the North Idaho Regional Spelling Bee next month.

The winner of that spelling bee will be sent to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in May.

Each of the 46 fourth- through eighth-graders won the grade level spelling bee in his or her district to qualify for the regional event, which takes place at 10 a.m. on March 29 in the Boswell Hall Schuler Performing Arts Center at North Idaho College.

Fourth-grade participants include: Colin Richards, Hayden Meadows Elementary; Merinda Austin, Betty Kiefer Elementary; Sarah Wells, Sagle Elementary; Sarah Chandler, Harrison Elementary; Adam Pontius, Heyburn Elementary; Andrew Lewis, Sunnyside Elementary; Caitlin Klaeui, Idaho Virtual Academy; Conor McInnis, Holy Family Catholic School; Justine Thomas of Hayden, home-schooled.

Fifth-grade participants include: Jack Harris, Hayden Meadows Elementary; Shane Hylton, Betty Kiefer Elementary; Delia Boyd, Sagle Elementary; Payton Wadsworth, Harrison Elementary; Benson Waldrop, Heyburn Elementary; Allie Broaddus, Sunnyside Elementary; Brian Pfau, Idaho Virtual Academy; Carly Johnson, House of the Lord Christian Academy; Sawyer Brandt of Hayden, home-schooled.

Sixth-grade participants include: Kirk Abolafia, Canfield Middle School; Derek Bayley, Betty Kiefer Elementary; Sierra Mitchell, Farmin-Stidwell Elementary; Seth Elsom, Kootenai Jr./Sr. High School; Caitlin Hunt, Kellogg Middle School; Isaiah Sovereign, Idaho Virtual Academy; Sabrina Smith, Christian Center School; LeeAnne Bixler of Coeur d’Alene, home-schooled.

Seventh-grade participants include: Easton Townsend, Woodland Middle School; Timothy Young, Timberlake Junior High School; Leo Hunsaker, Sandpoint Middle School; Marshall Willms, Kootenai Jr./Sr. High School; Mackenzie Bublitz, Kellogg Middle School; Seth Johnson, Idaho Virtual Academy; Ashlynn Batchelor, Christian Center School; Paul Barbieri of Dalton Gardens, home-schooled.

Eighth-grade participants include: Jamie Wright, Woodland Middle School; Dominique Vanderwilt, Timberlake Junior High School; Michael Peltzer, Sandpoint Middle School; Macie Parker, Kootenai Jr./Sr. High School; Christopher Kalberg, Idaho Virtual Academy; Bethany Harryman, Christian Center School; Rachel Pinkerton of Coeur d’Alene, home-schooled.