For the third consecutive year, middle school students Somers Brush and Alex Parker battled it out against one another in the final round of the annual Grosse Pointe Academy spelling bee. Somers was declared champion in 2005-06, with Alex winning his revenge as champion in 2006-07. Now eighth graders, they met for their final match-up, and, in spite of the violent nature of the two final words – “lacerate” and “hemorrhage” – the mood was congenial and good sportsmanship prevailed when Somers was ultimately declared champion for 2007-08. 

Fourth grader Jack Sheeren, a new student at the Academy this year, made it to the final three in his debut performance. “This was actually the first year that fourth graders competed,” said 4/5 teacher Bob Lapadot, who has moderated the Academy’s spelling bee for 21 years. “I was impressed with all of the students, but particularly the younger ones. It is not easy to get up in front of your peers and older students like that. It is a great opportunity for these kids to learn how to be poised and think on their feet in front of an audience.”

Congratulations go to all the top spellers in their grades who qualified for the bee based on two rounds of written tests. The other finalists were fourth graders Sara Anthony and Grayson Cieszkowski, fifth graders Charles Becker and Joseph Cavataio, sixth graders Karstan Minanov, Jennifer Vermet and Zachary Wood, seventh graders Ryley Maher and Ryan Rochte, and eighth grader Grace Rentschler.