Can you spell, C-H-A-M-P?

Despite being the youngest student in the competition, McNeal Elementary fourth-grader Anissa Murgo beat seven other local spelling wizards to win the Scripps National Spelling Bee Local Finals March 24 at St. Joseph Catholic School.

In addition to Murgo, the competition, sponsored by Coastal Orthopedics & Sports Medicine/Pain Management, featured school winners from Rowlett Elementary; Haile, Johnson, King, Lincoln and Nolan middle schools; and St. Joseph. Coastal Orthopedics & Sports Medicine/Pain Management sponsored the local competition.

Now, she’ll represent Manatee County at the annual Scripps National Spelling Bee June 1-2 in Washington, D.C.

She also received The Samuel Lois Sugarman $100 savings bond, a one-year subscription to www.Merriam-WebsterUnabridged.com and a one-year subscription to Britannica Online for Kids.

Other competitors included: 

Sarah Boucher: Nolan Middle, grade 8
Loryn Carpenter: Rowlett Elementary, grade 5
Bea Gelongo: St. Joseph Catholic, grade 8
Chris Korda: King Middle, grade 7
Harper Lewis: Lincoln Middle, grade 6
Anissa Murgo: McNeal Elementary, grade 4
Pankti Parikh: Johnson Middle, grade 6
Taylor Wehmeyer: Haile Middle, grade 7

For more about Anissa Murgo, pick up the March 31 edition of the East County Observer.

Contact Michael Eng at [email protected].