A Champion Once More
Royalton student wins regional spelling bee for second year in a row
William Rausch has spelled his way to champion. Again.
The Royalton eighth grader took first place at the 2024 Regional Spelling Bee, hosted by Sourcewell, on March 21. Rausch was declared the winner after successfully spelling the words “profundity” and “apothecary” in the final round. He also won the Regional Spelling Bee last year.
Rausch now moves on to compete in the 2024 Scripps National Spelling Bee in National Harbor, Maryland, the last week of May.
The top three regional finishers were:
- Champion –William Rausch, eighth grade, Royalton
- Runner-up – Soren Pearson, fifth grade, Pequot Lakes
- 2nd Runner-up – Hudson Nelson, eighth grade, Sebeka
Each year, Sourcewell hosts the Regional Spelling Bee for third through eighth graders of member schools in the five-county service area of Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison, Todd, and Wadena counties. The winner earns an all-expenses paid trip to the national spelling bee for themselves and a parent/guardian.
“It was a remarkably close competition this year,” said Sourcewell Student Academics Coordinator Phillip Olsen. “It came down to a six-person spell-off to determine the second runner up, which was exciting to see. I’m always impressed by each participant’s incredible skill and talent.”
Each participant was a finalist or champion in their respective district. The representation formula is one speller per 1,000 students based on K-12 enrollment, which also includes private and parochial schools within the geographical boundaries of a district.
Congratulations to all regional spelling bee participants:
- Jeffrey Brassard, eighth grade, Aitkin
- Zachary Prethish, sixth grade, Aitkin
- Autumne Haus, seventh grade, Bertha-Hewitt
- Marlowe Cotariu, sixth grade, Crosslake
- Jessa Aho, fifth grade, Menahga
- Corey Stone, fourth grade, Nay Ah Shing
- Jacob Harrison, eighth grade, Pequot Lakes
- Soren Pearson, fifth grade, Pequot Lakes
- Carson Lucking, fifth grade, Pierz
- Isabelle Grittner, eighth grade, Pierz
- Tyler Thesing, seventh grade, Pierz
- Wyatt Dropps, fifth grade, Pine River-Backus
- William Rausch, eighth grade, Royalton
- Hudson Nelson, eighth grade, Sebeka
- Owen Roline, seventh grade, Staples-Motley
- Milo Hutchins, eighth grade, Swanville
- Josslyn Hansen, sixth grade, Wadena-Deer Creek