NK 5th Grader Wins State Spelling Bee

A fifth grader from North Kingstown is the state spelling bee champion after last week's competition, according to the Valley Breeze.

After 17 rounds, Stephen Landry of Hamilton Elementary School was declared the winner of the Rhode Island State Spelling Bee, held at Cumberland High School.

Landry claimed his victory on the word "humanitarian," beating out North Smithfield's Elizabeth Votta after he correctly spelled "manipulative." Votta faltered on "patently," leaving out the second "t."

Landry will go on to compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington D.C. this May.

Only a fifth grader, Landry will compete against other spellers in fourth through eighth grade from across the country.