1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place Winners
After 17 rounds of spelling, Lynne Thigpen Elementary School fifth-grade student Natalia Hernandez won the Joliet Public Schools District 86 Elementary School Spelling Bee Contest. Isaac Ruiz from Carl Sandburg Elementary was the runner-up and Alexander Cervantes from T.E. Culbertson placed third. The competition took place at Pershing Elementary School.
Also competing in the contest were: M.J. Cunningham Elementary: Ruben Rojo-Ricardez; Eisenhower Academy: Mariana Reyes; Farragut Elementary: Gael Hernandez Jaramillo; Forest Park I.E.: Mateo Morales; Thomas Jefferson Elementary: Evalyn Goins; Edna Keith Elementary: Sofia Ruiz; A.O. Marshall Elementary: Justin Hernandez; Pershing Elementary: Ororo Selene Dokes; Sator Sanchez Elementary: Alvaro Hernandez; Isaac Singleton Elementary: Christian Perez; Taft Elementary: Gabriel Duran; and Woodland Elementary: Jeffrey Brown.
In addition, our top junior high spellers will compete in the 2025 Will County Regional Spelling Bee on March 13th at Lincoln-Way West High School in New Lenox. Students include: Dirksen Junior High: Karielle Walters; Gompers Junior High: Amy Salazar; Hufford Junior High: Mindy Rios; and Washington Academy: Jada Brown.