FEBRUARY 19, 2025 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Yamelie Gonzalez, Communications Manager
352.671.7542 ◊ FAX: 352.671.7735 ◊ CELL: 352.246.2278
Email: [email protected]
MAI CROWNED MARION COUNTY’S
2025 S-P-E-L-L-I-N-G B-E-E CHAMPION
2025 Marion County Spelling Bee Champion Ava Mai and Runner-Up Elias Javelona (both center), pose with (l-r) MCPS’s Dr. Danielle Brewer, Liberty Middle Principal Reuben “Bo” Williams, Howard Middle Principal Suzette Parker, and Spelling Bee Director Mark Ingram.
MARION COUNTY – Twenty-two middle school students from across Marion County competed in a battle of words Tuesday evening to become Marion County’s 2025 Spelling Bee Champion.
After 11 rounds, Liberty Middle School’s Ava Mai, an eighth grader, emerged victorious as the county’s top speller. She took home a ribbon and cash prize provided by the Women’s Club of Ocala, the Bee’s long-time sponsor and part of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs.
Mai spelled “derivative” as the championship word to earn the title.
Elias Javelona of Howard Middle School finished as the runner up and also took home a ribbon and cash prize.
The 23rd annual Marion County event also marks a special milestone - the 100th anniversary of the Scripps National Spelling Bee taking place in Washington DC in May.
Students from 11 Marion County middle schools participated in Tuesday evening’s competition, including Belleview, Blessed Trinity, Dunnellon, Fort King, Fort McCoy, Horizon Academy at Marion Oaks, Howard, Lake Weir, Liberty, North Marion, and Osceola.
The event was held at the Browne Greaton Cole Auditorium at Marion Technical Institute in Ocala. While the event was recorded live for the MCPS YouTube Channel (@MarionCountyK12), it will not be available for viewing until April 1 to maintain the integrity of the Scripps National Spelling Bee’s word list.
School-based spelling bee winners also participated in the regional online spelling bee for a chance to advance to the Scripps National Spelling Bee this summer.
For more information, contact Spelling Bee Director Mark Ingram at 352.236.0519 or [email protected]. Additional information is available at www.spellingbee.com.
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