Urddhareta Roy of Connolly Middle School placed first in the 2023 Tempe Elementary School District Spelling Bee.

The eighth-grader will be joined at this year’s regional spelling bee by Gavin Lewis, Arredondo Elementary School, who finished in second place; Brooklin Woo Giron, Fuller Elementary School, third; Gauri Choudhary, McKemy Academy of International Studies, fourth; and Dora Facio, Carminati Elementary School, fifth.

Twenty-one students competed in the spelling bee Jan. 26 at the district offices.

The district champion and four runners-up will attend the Maricopa County Regional Bee, which will be Saturday, Feb. 11, at the McKemy Academy of International Studies.

The Tempe Elementary School District recognized the winners of each school’s spelling bee:

Aguilar Elementary School

• School Champion: Elena Olson
• Runner-Up: Aubryelle Vidal

Arredondo Elementary School

• School Champion: Gavin Lewis
• Runner-Up: Anishka Shekhar

Broadmor Elementary School

• School Champion: Wayuwita Ben
• Runner-Up: Zoe Jovanovic

Carminati Elementary School

• School Champion: Dora Facio
• Runner-Up: Malik Washington

Connolly Middle School

• School Champion: Urddhareta Roy
• Runner-Up: Kaia Brigham

Curry Elementary School

• School Champion: Melody L. White-Harris
• Runner-Up: Donavyn Hernandez

Fees College Preparatory Middle School

• School Champion: Samantha Arce
• Runner-Up: Sumayah Shah

Frank Elementary School

• School Champion: Aleef Muhammed-Porties
• Runner-Up: Patrick Kurz

Fuller Elementary School

• School Champion: Brooklin Woo-Giron
• Runner-Up: Lucia Valenzuela-Ezzre

Holdeman Elementary School

• School Champion: Cole Williamson
• Runner-Up: Anaya Hamilton

McKemy Academy of International Studies

• School Champion: Gauri Choudhary
• Runner-Up: Dimitri Phillips

Meyer Montessori

• School Champion: Lilinoe Williams
• Runner-Up: Julia Bruner

Geneva Epps Mosley Middle School

• School Champion: Adnane Charrat
• Runner-Up: Key’marr Tillman

Nevitt Elementary School 

• School Champion: Alan Fernandez
• Runner-Up: Chaz Castaneda

Rover Elementary School

• School Champion: Malcolm Matus
• Runner-Up: Madelyn Mondragon

Scales Technology Academy

• School Champion: Keirra Kyles-Johnson
• Runner-Up: Aiden Rojas

Cecil Shamley School

• School Champion: Attila Mady
• Runner-Up: Chelsea Uribe

Joseph P. Spracale Elementary School

• School Champion: Olivia Hutchinson
• Runner-Up: Jordan Bernardo

Thew Elementary School

• School Champion: Eloisa Castillo Salinas
• Runner-Up: Ernesto Lonzano

Ward Traditional Academy

• Winner: Henry Sumrall
• Runner-Up: Shalena Luwia Garde

Wood Elementary School

• School Champion: Caleb Skacy-Daw
• Runner-Up: Lelaina Cudo