2024 North Dakota State Spelling Bee results announced
VCHS, John Oakland, tied for 17th
The 2024 North Dakota State Spelling Bee was held on Monday, March 18th at the Bismarck Event Center.
Champion:
Luna Gasevic was declared champion for third consecutive year at the 2024 North Dakota State Spelling Bee. Luna is an 8th grader at Ben Franklin Middle School (Fargo) in Cass County and is the daughter of Enej and Lejla Gasevic. Her hobbies include playing viola, sailing, and drawing.
Luna’s grand prize is a trip to Washington, D.C. to compete at the Scripps National Spelling Bee from May 26th to May 31st. Her prize includes airfare and lodging for two as well as an expense allowance. She also won a trophy, gold medal, Barnes and Noble gift card, North Dakota Spelling Bee engraved YETI, and the following prizes from Scripps:
- The Samuel Louis Sugarman Award for a 2024 United States Mint Proof Set
- One-year subscription to Britannica Online Premium
- One-year subscription to Merriam-Webster Unabridged Online
- One-year subscription to Epic Family
- Eight live, 1-on-1 Tynker coding classes and a one-year Tynker home subscription
The oral portion of the competition began with twenty-seven competitors. Luna Gasevic was declared champion after correctly spelling the word “ethical.” Other words she spelled correctly leading up to her final word include tubers, leeway, equilibrium, Acadian, cutis, panary, sepulchral, occultation, twain, and catchall. When asked how much time she put into studying for the State Spelling Bee, Luna said, “It depends on the day. It can be anywhere from an hour to upwards of four hours daily.” As she prepares for the Scripps National Spelling Bee for the third time, Luna shared what she is most looking forward to: “I just love the competition. There are a lot of really great, talented people.”
2nd Place – Runner-Up:
Merryn Johnson is the 2024 Runner-Up of the North Dakota State Spelling Bee. She is an 8th grader at Discovery Middle School (Fargo) in Cass County and is the daughter of Mark L. Johnson. Her hobbies include playing the clarinet and saxophone
as well as skiing and crocheting. Her awards include a trophy, silver medal, Barnes & Noble gift card, North Dakota Spelling Bee engraved YETI, and, from Merriam-Webster, the MerriamWebster’s Collegiate Dictionary (11th Edition).
3rd Place:
Kale Tebelius, an 8th grader from Hillcrest SDA Elementary School in Stutsman County, took third place at the North Dakota State Spelling Bee. His parents are Melissa Brass and Karl Tebelius. His prizes are a trophy, bronze medal, Barnes & Noble gift card, and North Dakota Spelling Bee engraved YETI.
4th Place:
Chilaka Ugobi took fourth place at the State Spelling Bee. He is a 6th grader at Our Redeemer’s Christian School in Ward County and is the son of Dr. David and Helen Ugobi. His prizes are a trophy, bronze medal, Barnes & Noble gift card, and North Dakota Spelling Bee engraved YETI.
State Spelling Bee Competition and other awards:
The North Dakota State Spelling Bee competition began in the morning with ninety-six spellers representing forty-nine of the fifty-three counties in the state. All spellers took part in a fifty-word written spelling test, followed by a twenty question, multiple choice vocabulary test. Students with the top twenty-five scores (along with any ties at twenty-five) advanced to the oral session in the afternoon. This year (with ties), twenty-seven students advanced to the oral rounds.
“This year’s State Spelling Bee was truly an exciting experience,” said Miranda Streifel, North Dakota Spelling Bee Director. “These talented spellers put in countless hours of time and energy into preparing for today and it showed!”
Note: Spellers eliminated in the same round ended in a tie.
1. Luna Gasevic, Cass
2. Merryn Johnson, Cass
3. Kale Tebelius, Stutsman
4. Chilaka Ugobi, Ward
5. Isaac Bui, Grand Forks
5. Mason Feist, Logan
7. Easton Geiszler, Pierce
8. Londyn Lauf, Ward
9. Arlin Grinolds, Burleigh
9. Max Sillers, Walsh
11. Halle Burau, Williams
11. Noah Prososki, Burleigh
11. Ella Wass, Ramsey
11. Caleb Halvorson, Pembina
11. Matthew Hamilton, Bottineau
11. Harrison Neustel, Sargent
17. Caitlin Dronen, Mercer
17. Katherine Winkler, Williams
17. Lauren Solseng, Walsh
17. Sophia Voigt, Morton
17. Hunter Fitzgerald, Pembina 17. John Oakland, Barnes
17. Christopher Charles, Ramsey
17. Musa Nombre, Grand Forks
17. Yusuf Dean, Wells
17. Tracy Jo Moch, Kidder
27. Sam Edward Pasag, Grant