La Crescenta Sixth-Grader Wins County Elementary Spelling Bee

Yeri Kim, a sixth-grader from Valley View Elementary School in La Crescenta, won the Los Angeles County Elementary Spelling Bee on Wednesday, beating out 23 fellow school district and charter school champions by correctly spelling perforate and pandiculation to conclude the competition.

Cooper Komatsu, a fifth-grader from El Marino Language School in Culver City, finished second in the bee held at Almansor Court Conference Center in Alhambra.

Both qualify for the California State Elementary Spelling Bee Championship, which will be held April 20 at the San Joaquin County Office of Education in Stockton. Komatsu was eliminated when he misspelled perforate.

The bee for students from fourth through sixth grades lasted for 19 rounds and nearly 90 minutes. Kearne Permanlino, a sixth-grader from Benito Juarez Elementary School in Cerritos, finished third. He was eliminated when he misspelled puerile.

The top three finishers received trophies and savings bonds.