Wicomico County school spelling bee champions selected through competition at the school level will now compete in the 2023 Maryland Eastern Shore Regional Spelling Bee at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in Princess Anne on Saturday, March 4.

The winner of the regional bee will be the area’s representative at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in early June.

UMES sponsors and hosts the regional bee, which will involve students in grades 4 through 8 from public schools, some private schools and homeschooling on the Lower Shore.

Students from Wicomico County Public Schools have won many of the Maryland Eastern Shore Spelling Bees, and have enjoyed competing in the Scripps National Spelling Bee with their peers from around the country.

The Maryland Eastern Shore Regional Spelling Bee will take place in the Ella Fitzgerald Center for Performing Arts at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 4. It is open to the public.

Classmates, teachers, administrators, families and other supporters are invited to attend. Ample parking is available in the parking lots adjacent to the Fitzgerald PAC. Bee participants should arrive by 8:30 a.m. to check in and be relaxed and ready by bee time. Spectators should plan to be in their seats by 9:50 a.m.

 Regional Bee Participants:

• Delmar Elementary: Valerie Laird (4th) champion, Leilani Lorinvil (4th) alternate.
• East Salisbury Elementary: Urijah Chase (5th) 1st Place, Tryston Mason (5th) runner-up.
• Fruitland Intermediate: Leah Shin (5th) champion, Isha Anwar (4th) runner-up.
• Glen Avenue Elementary: Robert Nagel (5th), 1st Place, Loveyy Jones (4th) runner-up.
• North Salisbury Elementary: Jeremiah Lopez (4th) 1st Place, Eric Ryu (4th) 2nd Place.
• Northwestern Elementary: Preston Barlow (5th) 1st Place, Brendan Mears (5th) runner-up.
• Pemberton Elementary: Kylie Jones (5th) 1st Place: Izabella Altekruse (5th) runner-up.
• Pinehurst Elementary: Kylie Montgomery (4th) champion, Reagan Matthews (5th) runner-up.
• Prince Street Elementary: Lyric Graham (5th) and Malachi Horn (5th), school champions.
• Westside Intermediate: Michelle Riley (5th) 1st Place, Calista Sweeney (4th) runner-up.
• Pittsville Elementary and Middle: Mason Foxwell (8th) 1st Place, Aarian Tucker (6th) runner-up.
• Bennett Middle: Alexander Brown (6th) 1st Place, Tharun Chandrasekaran (6th) 2nd Place.
• Salisbury Middle: Gillienne Hales (8th) and Sophia Reynoso (8th), school champions.
• Wicomico Middle: Rae’ana Rowley (6th) and Ethan Swain (8th), school champions.