Bolingbrook Eighth-Grader Wins Valley View Spelling Bee -- Again

Jane Addams eighth-grader Cristian Melendez correctly spelled “infinitesimal” and “ingénue” Thursday night to win the Valley View School District 365U Middle School Spelling Bee championship for the second time.

Melendez, who earned the title as a sixth-grader, will try to improve on his 8th place County Bee finish two years ago when he competes in the 2017 Will County Spelling Bee at 5:30 p.m. March 7 at Lockport East High School.

Joining him at the County Bee will be Humphrey 8th grader Judith Bediako, eighth-grader Alejandro Verdin-Pelayo from Martinez, Brooks 6th grader Elias Chavez and Lukancic seventh-grader Nicholas Agyemang.

The winner at the County Bee, which draws roughly 50 school champions from throughout Will County, will head to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. in several months.

Melendez won the title by spelling magnolia, libretto, Samaritan, jute and dross. Jane Addams sixth-grader Serena Sah finished second by correctly spelling Swahili, discern, pumpernickel, efficacy and genre before missing on “mnemonic.”

Third place went Bediarko who was right on bruin, biblical, kielbasa and imperative before missing on “quinine.” Humphrey 7th grader Hailey Cushing took fourth and Verdin-Pelayo and Brooks 6th grader Elias Chavez tied for fifth.

Photo: School board members Deb Sykora and Victor Zack present the VVSD Middle School Spelling Bee championship trophy to Jane Addams eighth-grader Cristian Melendez.

Submitted by Valley View School District