4 Hudson Valley Scholars Competed in 2024 National Spelling Bee

Hopefully, there are no spelling errors here. 4 Hudson Valley students took part in the 2024 Scripps National Spelling Bee.

What is The Scripps National Spelling Bee?

Every year students of all ages have the opportunity to take part in the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

You may remember having a spelling bee in class in grade school, then in the cafeteria, and then in bigger venues like the auditorium or a local theater. Schools and students who participate spell their way to the big show the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

According to their website, the Scripps National Spelling Bee has been around for 125 years! Back in 1925, 9 newspapers joined forces to host a spelling bee, and now over 100 years later students from all over participate to be the best speller in the nation.

This year, 4 students from the Hudson Valley represented the best New York spellers.

4 Hudson Valley Students Represent NY at the National Spelling Bee

There must be something in the water in the Hudson Valley. 4 students from the mid-Hudson region participated in the Scripps National Spelling Bee this year.

The Hudson Valley contestants were:

Eli McNair- South Middle School, Newburgh NY (Sponsored by Orange-Ulster BOCES)

Noah Kaplan- Van Wyck Junior High, Wappingers Falls NY (Sponsored by SNSB Region Four Bee)

YY Liang- Home School, New Windsor NY (Sponsored by ScholarSkills for STARS)

Nyarah Garver- Windham-Ashland-Jewett Central School, Windham NY (Sponsored by The Daily Star)

What Was the Winning Word at the 2024 Scripps National Spelling Bee?

YY Liang made it the furthest, finishing tied for 7th place in round 9. Liang was given the word: immanent. However, she spelled it "iminent."

The winning word for the 2024 Scripps National Spelling Bee was abseil meaning "a descent in mountaineering by means of a rope looped over a projection above."

Congratulations to 12-year-old Bruhat Soma of St. Petersburg, Florida.