This year’s Troy District Spelling Bee was won by Josh Brubaker of Hook Elementary School following an intense final round with runner up, Marco Zhang of Van Cleve.

After an opening welcome by Mayor Beamish and the introduction of the participants, the event was an exciting hour of concentration and competition as children from all over the city tried to spell their way to a trophy and championship. Families, teachers, and school administrators gathered at the Troy high school auditorium for the event and were left breathless as they waited to cheer until the end of each round. Twelve students represented their schools in the challenge and ranged in year from 5^th to 8^th grade.

The words were given by Leanne Fish and judged by Nancy Johnson, retired from Cookson Elementary, Beth Landfair of Troy Christian, Jay Cullis of Miami Montessori School, and John Gibbons, retired from Troy City Schools.

A practice round began the competition and nerves were heightened as each child stepped up to the microphone. With every round that progressed, the words increased in difficulty until Marco Zhang and Josh Brubaker were the only two spellers still vying for the title. The final word for Marco Zhang was celsius. Josh Brubaker took the title for this year’s District Spelling Bee with the word organelle and won the Championship Round with the word cartouches. Both Brubaker and Zhang received trophies and each of the students who participated in the spelling bee received a certificate recognizing their achievement.

The student contestants included Ian Carroll from Troy Junior High, Cameron DeBerry from Troy Christian Elementary, Hannah Duff of Kyle Elementary, Halle Frigge of Concord Elementary, Katie Huelskamp of St. Patrick Elementary, Heidi Keiser of Troy Christian Junior High, Bryce Massingill of Heywood Elementary, Kara Steinke of Forest Elementary, and Ethan Spencer of Miami Montessori School.

According to Brubaker, although he was nervous at the beginning of the competition, his confidence grew. “By the end, I just knew I was going to win, actually,” Brubaker said. “It’s a really good feeling.” Families and friends surrounded the children following the conclusion of the Spelling Bee. Administrators and teachers expressed their joy at the success of the event and the skill represented by students of their district and schools. Upcoming regional and national spelling competitions are potentially in Josh Brubaker’s future in 2016.

Josh Brubaker	Marco Zhang