Harmony Hoyt, a sixth-grade student at Madawaska Middle/High School, took home the top prize at the Aroostook County Spelling Bee held Thursday, Feb. 12, at the University of Maine at Fort Kent.
Hoyt secured her victory by correctly spelling the word “baptismal.” She will now advance to the Maine State Spelling Bee, scheduled for Saturday, March 21, at Bowdoin College in Brunswick.
The regional competition featured 16 students from across the county. Each participant earned their spot by placing as a winner or runner-up in preliminary rounds at their respective schools. Participating schools included:
- Ashland District School
- Easton Junior/Senior High School
- Fort Kent Elementary and Valley Rivers Middle School
- Greater Houlton Christian Academy
- Madawaska Elementary and Madawaska Middle High School
- Mill Pond School and Hodgdon Middle High School
- M.S.A.D. 33
- Woodland Consolidated School
Maine School Administrative District 27 sponsored the event. The competition was coordinated by Travis Lynn, a seventh-grade English teacher at Valley Rivers Middle School.
The event was free and open to the public, drawing supporters from across Northern Maine to cheer on the region’s top spellers.