Merced City Schools Earn Top Spots at County Spelling Bee

The Merced City School District took first place in both Merced County Spelling Bees this week at the Merced County Office of Education.

In the elementary competition, Aliyah Bebero, a fifth grader from Peterson Elementary School, secured the top spot with the word “resuscitate.” Aanashra Afrooz and Amelia Hampton, both sixth grade students from Luther Burbank Elementary, claimed second and third place, respectively. MCOE Director of Human Resources Stacy Shasky served as the word moderator for the elementary competition. 

In the junior high competition, Rishabh Saha, an eighth grader at Cruickshank Middle School and runner up at the 2022 California State Spelling Bee, earned first place with the word “ventriloquist.” Lawrence Ye, a seventh grader at Hoover Middle School, secured second place, while Anisha Jain, an eighth grader at Our Lady of Mercy, claimed third place. MCOE Assistant Superintendent of Special Education Laura Fong moderated the junior high competition.

The first and second place winners from each competition will advance to the state championship in April 2024 where they will represent the county at the California State Spelling Bee in Stockton. 

The study suggestion list is provided by the San Joaquin County Office of Education, which holds the Elementary and Junior High State Spelling Bee Championships.