The Miami Herald hosted an opportunity for students in Broward and Miami-Dade counties to participate in the Scripps National Spelling Bee program which yielded many winners honored at the 2014 Spelling Bee ceremonies. The Miami-Dade Spelling Bee Ceremony was held at Jungle Island on Wednesday, March 19.
Local elementary school champions included Shaheer Kotwal from Hialeah Gardens Elementary School, Briana Cantero from Miami Lakes K-8 Center, and Rafael de la Cova from Our Lady of the Lakes Elementary School.
Local Middle school champions included Nickolas Valencia from Country Club Middle School, Alejandro Martinez from Lawton Chiles Middle School, Shaun Cruz from Mater Academy Lakes Middle High School and Cecilia Tome from Our Lady of the Lakes.
Sunny Isles Beach Community School middle schooler, Shayaan Subzwari, won first place in the county and will go on to represent Miami-Dade in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.