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Meet the 2023 Central PA Spelling Bee Spellers!

35 spellers compete for a spot at Scripps National Spelling Bee

  • Christina Zeiders

In January 2023, 203 students from schools across our coverage area took part in the written portion of the Central PA Spelling Bee. The top spellers earned an opportunity to represent their schools in the 2023 Central PA Spelling Bee Grand Championship.

Meet the 35 spellers taking part in the Grand Championship! They represent 29 schools from 11 counties in the WITF neighborhood. They’re all competing to earn a spot in the Scripps National Spelling Bee, which takes place in the Washington D.C. area May 28–June 2.

Stream the Grand Championship on April 1 on WITF’s YouTube Channel or at witf.org/bee!


– Nathan Anderson –

Nathan AndersonNathan is an eighth grader at Mechanicsburg Middle School in the Mechanicsburg Area School District. His favorite books are Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales and Wings of Fire series. He has four pets: two cats named Toothless and Hiccup, and two dogs named Kimber and Noelle. He plans to become an astrophysicist or pilot in the future.


– Alina Anjum –

Alina AnjumAlina is a seventh grader at Eagle View Middle School in the Cumberland Valley School District. The best book she has ever read is Wake Up Missing by Kate Messner. She is interested in art and soccer, and plans to start a career in the medical field.


– Joel Artman –

Joel ArtmanJoel is a sixth grader at Northern Middle School in the Northern York County School District. The best book series he has ever read is the Trials of Apollo by Rick Riordan. He is interested in psychology and space, and he plans to become a game designer in the future.


– Connor Bailey –

Connor BaileyConnor is a sixth grader at Yellow Breeches Middle School in the South Middleton School District. He has four cats named Boo, Rexy, Lucky and Cocoa. His role model is Shohei Ohtani because he taught that any person from any place can do anything. He plans to start a career in computer science.


– Aayush Behura –

Aayush BehuraAayush is a fourth grader at Hershey Elementary School in the Derry Township School District. The best book series he has ever read is Magic Tree House by Mary Pope Osbourne. He has a pet fish named Scaly and plans to be a computer engineer in the future.


– Peyton Bergeron –

Peyton BergeronPeyton is an eighth grader at Palmyra Area Middle School in the Palmyra Area School District. The best book he has ever read is Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card. He has a cat named Kayla and plans to be a forensic scientist in the future. He is a jazz band member, student council officer and Mini-Thon committee head.


– Olina Bunty –

Olina BuntyOlina is a fourth grader at Centerville Elementary School in the Hempfield School District. The best book she ever read is Matilda by Roald Dahl. She has many interests, but a few are books, drawing, Sailor Moon, Harry Potter, writing and saving the Earth. In the future, she would like to be an author, teacher or artist.


– Sophie Cunningham –

Sophie CunninghamSophie is a sixth grader at Palmyra Area Middle School in the Palmyra Area School District. Her favorite author is Rick Riordan. She has a dog named Cody and likes to spend time reading, baking, and playing softball and field hockey. She plans to start a career in the medical field.


– Aubrey Dillon –

Aubrey DillonAubrey is a sixth grader at East Pennsboro Area Middle School in the East Pennsboro Area School District. The best book she ever read is Havoc by V. M. Stunich. She has five cats named Polly, Shannon, Sam, Cleo and Luci. In the future, she plans to be a psychologist.


– Salaar Faiz –

Salaar FaizSalaar is an eighth grader at Manheim Township Middle School in the Manheim Township School District. The best book he has ever read is Animal Farm by George Orwell. He likes to spend time playing sports, hanging out with his friends, and playing piano. He plans to become a doctor.


– Alivia Foltz –

Alivia FoltzAlivia is an eighth grader at Tuscarora Junior High School in the Juniata County School District. The best book she has ever read is Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins. She has two dogs named Molly and Winnie, and a cat named Sophie. She admires Jeremy Jordan for his inspiring singing and acting. She plans to start a career in music.


– Madison Gonzalez –

Madison GonzalezMadison is an eighth grader at Conestoga Valley Middle School in the Conestoga Valley School District. His favorite book series is Big Nate by Lincoln Pierce. He has two dogs named Moana and Ellie. He plans to start a career in nuclear chemistry and admires Albert Einstein for flipping the physics and science world upside-down.


– Eden Gracey –

Eden GraceyEden is an eighth grader at York Suburban Middle School in the York Suburban School District. Her favorite authors are Diana Urban and Karen M. McManus. She has a dog named Kona. Her favorite food is French onion soup, and she is interested in music – specifically saxophone, flute and piano.


– Malachi Henson –

Malachi HensonMalachi is an eighth grader at Manheim Central Middle School in the Manheim Central School District. The best book he has ever read is Life of Pi by Yann Martel. His interests include computers, math, science and logic. In the future, he plans to have a career in web development.


– Ellee Hewick –

Ellee HewickEllee is a sixth grader from South Eastern Intermediate School in the South Eastern School District. Her favorite book series is Wings of Fire by Tui T. Sutherland. She has a dog named Hero. She enjoys art, reading and science. She plans to pursue a career in engineering.


– Elyse Hock –

Elyse HockElyse is a sixth grader at Northern Middle School in the Northern York County School District. The best book she has ever read is Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper. She enjoys reading, needlework and crocheting. She plans to become a Kindergarten teacher.


– CJ Jones –

CJ JonesCJ is an eighth grader at Mechanicsburg Middle School in the Mechanicsburg Area School District. Her favorite book is Lawless Spaces by Corey Ann Haydu. She has two cats named Bert and Ernie. She plans to become a school psychologist.


– Mackenzie Landis –

Mackenzie LandisMackenzie is an eighth grader at Smith Middle School in the Solanco School District. Her favorite author is Shannon Messenger. She has two dogs named Bella and Sprinkles, and two cats named Cinnamon and Chai. She plans to become a wildlife biologist.


– Michelle Li –

Michelle LiMichelle is a seventh grader at Infinity Charter School in Harrisburg. The best book she ever read is Wings of Fire: Moon Rising by Tui T. Sutherland. She has a pet snapping turtle named Hunter and her favorite food is sushi. She plans to become a physical therapist, veterinarian or figure skater.


– Susie McCooey –

Susie McCooeySusie is a sixth grader at Rohrerstown Elementary School in the Hempfield School District. Her favorite book series is Shadow Children by Margaret Peterson Haddix. She has a pet gerbil named Mr. Peanut. She plans to become a graphic designer.


– Jaren McCurdy –

Jaren McCurdyJaren is an eighth grader at Greencastle-Antrim Middle School in the Greencastle-Antrim School District. The best book he has ever read is The Kill Order by James Dashner. He has two dogs named Gunnar and Daisy and is interested in Pokémon cards. He plans to pursue a career in archeology.


– Haris Niazi –

Haris NiaziHaris is a seventh grader at York Suburban Middle School in the York Suburban School District. The best book series he has ever read is I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore. His favorite food is Chinese rice. He plans to become a medical doctor.


– Rachana R. Nou –

Rachana R. NouRachana is a fourth grader at Paxtonia Elementary School in the Central Dauphin School District. Her favorite books are 49 ESL Listening Activities for Kids by Jackie Bolen and the Junie B. Jones series by Barbara Park. She plans to become a doctor or author.


– Van Reiner –

Van ReinerVan is a seventh grader at Reynolds Middle School in the School District of Lancaster. His favorite food is donburi. He has a dog named Apollo and a cat named Chicken. His favorite book series is the Shadow and Bone Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo. He plans to pursue a career in politics.


– David Rodriguez Schuetrumpf –

David Rodriguez SchuetrumpfDavid is an eighth grader at Reynolds Middle School in the School District of Lancaster. The best book he ever read is Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones. He has a cat named Ravioli and enjoys video games, reading and hanging out with his friends.


– Daniel Sandblade –

Daniel SandbladeDaniel is a seventh grader at Reynolds Middle School in the School District of Lancaster. The best book he has ever read is Dune by Frank Herbert.  He has two cats named Mochi and Fuzz, and his favorite food is bibimbap. He plans to become a marine biologist.


– Sibi Shanmugam –

Sibi ShanmugamSibi is an eighth grader at Eagle View Middle School in the Cumberland Valley School District. His favorite author is Rick Riordan. He admires his sister for her bravery. He enjoys coding, art and music and plans to become an engineer.


– Harry Skiles –

Harry SkilesHarry is an eighth grader at Martin Meylin Middle School in the Lampeter-Strasburg School District. The best book he has ever read is A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket. He has four pet rats named Bean, Muffin, Peanut and Pumpkin. He plans to become a lawyer.


– Akshaj Somisetty –

Akshaj SomisettyAkshaj is a sixth grader at Mountain View Middle School in the Cumberland Valley School District. The best book series he has ever read is the Conspiracy 365 collection by Gabrielle Lord. He plans to become a doctor.


– Jonathan Stermer –

Jonathan StermerJonathan is an eighth grader at York Suburban Middle School in the York Suburban School District. The best book he has ever read is Prisoner B-3087 by Alan Gratz. He enjoys woodworking, mountain biking, hunting and soccer. He plans to pursue a career in aerospace engineering or pediatric medicine.


– David Street –

David StreetDavid is an eighth grader at Centerville Middle School in the Hempfield School District. His favorite book series is Journey to the West by Anthony C. Yu. He is interested in mythology and plans to pursue a career in engineering.


– Aisha Syed –

Aisha SyedAisha is a seventh grader at Central Dauphin Middle School in the Central Dauphin School District. Her favorite book is Spy School by Stuart Gibbs. She loves to ask questions and explore the topics of science, politics and disease. She plans to pursue a career in astrophysics or nuclear engineering.


– Stevenson Truong –

Stevenson TruongStevenson is a seventh grader at Susquehanna Township Middle School in the Susquehanna Township School District. His favorite author is Brandon Mull. His favorite food is spring rolls, and he enjoys books, writing and games. He plans to become an engineer.


– Tanush Vanamala –

Tanush VanamalaTanush is a seventh grader at Mountain View Middle School in the Cumberland Valley School District. His favorite book is Wings of Fire Moon Rising by Tui T. Sutherland. His favorite foods are sushi and American fast food, and he has a dog named Buddy. He plans to become a neurologist.


– Kenzo Veron –

Kenzo VeronKenzo is an eighth grader at Lamberton Middle School in the Carlisle School District. His favorite book series is Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan. He has a dog named Kenji and enjoys basketball with dad, video games and traveling. He plans to start his career in engineering.

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