The Miami Herald Spelling Bee, celebrating its 75th anniversary, was held Wednesday, March 11, at Jungle Island in Miami. The competition invited all elementary and middle school spelling bee winners from Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties which included local students in Hialeah and Miami Lakes.
Students who were named spelling bee champions from their school included Pedro Perez, 5th grade, from Hialeah Gardens Elementary School; Michael Rodriguez, 5th grade, and Erena Lopez, 6th grade, Mater Gardens Elementary and Middle Academy; Ian Valdes, 4th grade, and Elizabeth Bernal, 8th grade, Miami Lakes K-8 Center; Rafael De La Cova, 5th grade, and Karina Sarandrea, 8th grade, Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic School; Gabriel Hernandez, 6th grade, Hialeah Gardens Middle; David Maynoldi, 8th grade, Jose Marti MAST 6-12 Academy; and Sebastian Valenzuela, 6th grade, Mater Academy Lakes Elementary Middle Academy.
All 10 local students competed against other school winners but ultimately Hebrew Academy 8th grader, Jack Benveniste-Plitt won the competition and will be competing in Washington, D.C. for the Scripps National Spelling Bee in May. Melanie Colarte from Herbert A. Ammons Middle School took second place and Melanie Barata form Mater Academy took third place.