Finalists for the Robert Fowler/Byron-Bergen Jr. High School and Buffalo News Spelling Bee include (l-r) Champion Russell Cunningham (grade 8), Olivia Audsley (grade 8), Clare Fraser (grade 8), Celia Merovich (grade 8), and Wade Thompson (grade 6).Byron-Bergen’s Russell Cunningham is a spelling bee champion, again.
Russell was awarded spelling bee champion recently at the annual Robert Fowler/Byron-Bergen Jr. High School and Buffalo News Spelling Bee, in association with The Scripps National Spelling Bee. Russell was also awarded champion last year.
Russell, an eighth-grader at Byron-Bergen Jr./Sr. High School, landed the top honor after six rounds with 28 other students. He correctly spelled “electioneer” in the final round of the competition against his opponents, Olivia Audsley (grade 8), Clare Fraser (grade 8), Celia Merovich (grade 8), and Wade Thompson (grade 6).
“Russell is the only student at his school to correctly spell all 25 words in the preliminary test for the last two years,” said Jr. High School ELA Teacher Jason Blom.
Russell will complete a standardized written test February 6, which will determine his participation in the regional spelling bee, Western New York Oral Finals, March 10 at the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society.
