The Culpeper County Spelling Bee took place at A.G. Richardson Elementary on Wednesday, January 22, 2025. The bee showcased the impressive spelling abilities of students from all six elementary schools. With 18 participants vying for the title, the competition was fierce and went on for 16 intense rounds before a victor emerged.
The auditorium buzzed with anticipation as students nervously took to the microphone ready to conquer the challenging words thrown their way. From the very start, it was evident that this year's spelling bee would be nothing short of spectacular, with the contestants demonstrating remarkable composure and confidence under pressure.
Among the words that tested the students' spelling acumen were challenges such as antipathy, consternation, clandestine, and untenable. Despite the complexity of these words, participants rose to the occasion, spelling them with precision and poise. Spectators watched in awe as the young spellers showcased their dedication to mastering the intricacies of the English language.
As the competition approached the end, the field narrowed down to a select few who demonstrated exceptional spelling abilities. The final rounds were marked by a fight for the finish, with each contestant vying for the coveted title of Culpeper County Spelling Bee Champion.
In the end, it was Sycamore Park’s Keara Portillo Urquilla who emerged victorious, spelling the championship word, derivative, with confidence and accuracy. She was awarded the prestigious title amid cheers and applause from the audience, cementing her place as the CCPS spelling champion. This year’s runner up was Sycamore Park’s Sophia Jolivette and the third-place winner was Kassadi Nicholson from Yowell Elementary.
The County Spelling Bee included the top three finishers from each school’s spelling bee:
A.G. RICHARDSON: Declan Call, Thomas Wynacht, Mary Morgan
EMERALD HILL: Zoe Winkie, Jesse Sunday, Edward Parrish
FARMINGTON: Ray De La Cruz Carrillo, Adleigh Waddell, Riley Mitchell
PEARL SAMPLE: Jackson Moffett, Mya Adams, Ava Buckle
SYCAMORE PARK: Sophia Jolivette, Keara Portillo Urquilla, Emlyn Myers
YOWELL: Savannah Workman, Kassadi Nicholson, Carson Franklin
The Culpeper County Spelling Bee owes much of its success to the dedication and hard work of the adults who volunteer their time and expertise to ensure a smooth and fair competition. Wes Mayles, the bee pronouncer, skillfully guided contestants through the challenging words with clarity and precision. The 2025 judges were Deputy Rob Vail, Nancy Sink, and Racheal Fick. Behind the scenes Spelling Bee Coordinators played an instrumental role in organizing and executing the event seamlessly. Kristin Marini represented the division and A.G. Richardson Elementary, and each of the other schools had a bee coordinator including Becky Murdock from Yowell Elementary, Elizabeth Seeley from Pearl Sample Elementary, Mindy Brooks-Smith from Sycamore Park Elementary, Lance Lacey from Emerald Hill Elementary, and Grace Harris from Farmington Elementary.
The success of the Culpeper County Spelling Bee would not have been possible without the generous support of the event sponsors. CCPS extends heartfelt gratitude to Eppard Orthodontics for their commitment to educational initiatives in our community. We are truly grateful for their partnership and look forward to continuing to work together to empower and inspire the students of Culpeper County.
Submitted by: Kristin Marini
Photo credit: Kristin Marini and Amy Cackowski