Students in seventh through ninth grade from across the county competed in the 25th Annual San Joaquin County Spelling Bee Championship at the San Joaquin County Office of Education (SJCOE) on Wednesday, Dec. 7.
The 2022-23 San Joaquin County Spelling Bee champion for the Junior High Division is Ishaan Ajay, ninth grade, Lincoln High School (Lincoln Unified School District). Winning word: clientele.
The runner-up is Pranvi Rikkamalle, seventh grade, Jefferson School (Jefferson Elementary School District). Both students will move on to participate in the California State Junior High Spelling Bee Championship, scheduled on May 13, 2023, at the SJCOE.
This is Ishaan's second Junior High Division championship. He took the title last year, too. Prior to that, he was Elementary Division champion in sixth grade and runner-up in fifth grade. Pranvi was the 2021-2022 Elementary Division champion.
Wednesday's competition follows the San Joaquin County Spelling Bee Championship for the Elementary Division, which was held at the SJCOE on Monday, Dec. 5. In total, more than 75 students from school districts, charter schools, and private schools qualified to compete in the Elementary and Junior High divisions. The Spelling Bee championships are sponsored by Premier Community Credit Union and the SJCOE Educational Foundation.
Photos for publication available at: https://bit.ly/SJCBee2022.