Karen Opoku-Appoh, 8th grade student at Marana Middle School, became the Marana Unified School District’s 2023 Spelling Bee champion.
The District’s top 32 spellers were eligible to compete, ranging from fourth to eighth grade from Marana’s elementary, middle and K8 schools, for the title of Spelling Bee champion at the Marana Unified School District’s Spelling Bee hosted on Jan. 19 at Marana High School. Alternates were available to step in if a student could not participate.
Congratulations to:
- 1st Place/Champion: Karen Opoku-Appoh, 8th Grade, Marana Middle School
- 2nd Place: Zamarah Gonzalez, 6th Grade, DeGrazia Elementary School
- 3rd Place: Jill Parry, 8th Grade, Marana Middle School
- 4th Place: Ashton Nebeker, 8th Grade, Dove Mountain CSTEM K-8
- Alternate: Sophia Castro, 6th Grade, Estes Elementary School
Students were required to spell a wide variety of words, including embezzlement, corpulent and seclusion.
The spelling bee ended with Zamarah Gonzalez misspelling the word erstwhile (meaning: former). Karen Opoku-Appoh was then given the same word and spelled it correctly. She sealed her win as Spelling Bee champion by spelling the final word correctly, tubular (meaning: long, round, and hollow like a tube).
Karen will be joined by three top contestants, and an alternate, at the Pima County Spelling Bee on Sat., Feb. 18 at CDO High School.
Congratulations to all District participants and winners!
Student photos below are in placement order from 2nd place:
