By John Rohlf, The Message assistant editor
For the second consecutive year, the Diocese of Evansville Catholic Schools Office hosted a pair of diocesan spelling bees.
Students at schools throughout the diocese participated in two separate spelling bees March 4 at the Diocese of Evansville Catholic Center. The elementary spelling bee was for students in grades five or below. The middle school spelling bee was for students in grades 6-8.
“I would like to thank our parents, teachers and administrators for their support in preparing our students for the Diocesan Spelling Bee,” Diocesan Associate Superintendent Kari Ford said. “This event not only celebrates their hard work, but it also provides a wonderful opportunity for our schools to connect. We are blessed to share this opportunity with our schools as we invite their students to participate and share their God given talents.”
Earlier in the year, the diocesan schools hosted school-wide spelling bees to determine who each school would send to the diocesan spelling bee.
In the elementary spelling bee, Nash Childress from St. Joseph School in Princeton placed first and Khloe Sickman from St. Benedict Cathedral School in Evansville finished as the runner-up. In the middle school spelling bee, Rhea Singh from St. Philip School in Posey County placed first. Andrew Ulrich from Corpus Christi School in Evansville finished as the runner-up.
Flaget Principal Samantha McClure was the pronouncer for the elementary spelling bee and St. John the Baptist Principal Elizabeth Flatt was the pronouncer for the middle school spelling bee. Diocesan principals served as judges for the spelling bees.
Prior to the start of the elementary spelling bee, St. Wendel Principal Hallie Scheu welcomed all to the first spelling bee of the day. She then led all in a prayer before the start of the elementary spelling bee.
Participants in the middle school spelling bee were Singh, Ulrich, Avery Nolan, Christ the King in Evansville; Elijah Barchet, Good Shepherd in Evansville; Claire Schmitt, Holy Redeemer in Evansville; Everly Lindy, Holy Rosary in Evansville; Jack Schwoeppe, Holy Trinity in Jasper; Matthew Schimmell, Resurrection in Evansville; Faye Austin, St. Benedict in Evansville; Luke Ambler, St. Bernard in Rockport; Gabriel Faraone, St. James in Haubstadt; Henry Hochmeister, St. John the Baptist in Newburgh; Graham Schuble, St. Joseph in Vanderburgh County; Kyler Hodge, St. Wendel in St. Wendel; and Baylee Hoon, Westside Catholic in Evansville.
Participants in the elementary spelling bee were Childress, Sickman, Katie Greulich, Corpus Christi in Evansville; Samantha Abadicio, Good Shepherd in Evansville; Caroline Vieck, Flaget in Vincennes; Pete Russler, Holy Cross in Fort Branch; Penny Scherrer, Holy Redeemer in Evansville; Russell Collings, Holy Rosary in Evansville; Easton Schneider, Holy Trinity in Jasper; Trisha Hurt, Resurrection in Evansville; McKayla Chambers, St. Bernard in Rockport; Myla Karcher, St. James in Haubstadt; Aryan Kulkarni, St. John the Baptist in Newburgh; Sam Arnold, St. Joseph in Vanderburgh County; Celia Seifert, St. Matthew in Mount Vernon; Ryan Brown, St. Philip in Posey County; Ella Weinzapfel, St. Wendel in St. Wendel; Trey Howington, Sts. Peter and Paul in Haubstad; and Miranda Hamilton, Westside Catholic in Evansville.
