Jordan Intermediate School Student Earns First Place in GGUSD Spelling Bee

Friday, January 17, 2025

Jordan Intermediate School eighth grader Catherine Sweeney took home the championship trophy at GGUSD’s 37^th Annual Intermediate School Spelling Bee on January 15 after correctly spelling the word aioli. The event was held at the Edgar District Meeting Center and marks the second year in a row that a student from Jordan Intermediate School has won the bee.

Catherine was joined in the competition by 39 other GGUSD intermediate school competitors. English Language Arts Co-Chairpersons, Linda Martin and Amanda Stuart, were the coaches for the four spelling bee contestants from Jordan Intermediate School.

“Congratulations are in order for all of these spellers who spent hours during lunch, after school, and on their own time studying and preparing for this night,” said GGUSD Board of Education Trustee Teri Rocco. “I continue to be inspired by the incredible dedication of our students who demonstrate exceptional spelling abilities and shine with confidence in this rigorous competition.”

Joining Catherine in the final round, and placing 2^nd, was Bell Intermediate School’s Julianna-Maria Ramirez. Rounding out the top 10 spellers were Roman Lopez of Fitz Intermediate School, third place; Phillip Huynh of Irvine Intermediate School, fourth place; Joaquin Ablis of Fitz Intermediate School, fifth place; Jaedyn Nguyen of Lake Intermediate School, sixth place; Ha Nguyen of Walton Intermediate School, seventh place; Minh Phuc Do of Jordan Intermediate School, eighth place; Samir Abdulalim of Alamitos Intermediate School, ninth place; and Victoria Vo of McGarvin Intermediate School, tenth place. Trophies and medals were awarded by Board of Education President Lan Nguyen and Trustee Teri Rocco.

The district champion and the nine runners-up will represent the district at the Orange County Spelling Bee, with the written segment scheduled for February 24, followed by the deciding oral spelling round on March 1; both will be held at the Orange County Department of Education.

Each of the district’s 10 intermediate schools entered its four best spellers in the district competition. Contestants were asked to spell such words such as magnolia, consternation, astringent, onomatopoeia, and haberdasher.

GGUSD Board of Education President Lan Quoc Nguyen and Board of Education Trustee Teri Rocco presented trophies to the top 10 spellers, and all contest entrants received certificates of participation.

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