Ivy Blumenshein, Maximus Katsoulis,  Nickolas Bergman, Jaden Go, 2023 NWSC Spelling Bee winners advance to Regionals.

Northwest Service Cooperative of Thief River Falls, sponsored the Regional Spelling Bee which was held on Wednesday, February 8^th at Northland College in Thief River Falls.  Advancing from local and district competitions, 31 winning spellers from 25 schools in Region 1 & 2 participated in the Regional Bee.  All spellers participated in a written round in the morning with the top 17 spellers advancing to an oral round in the afternoon.

The top four spellers advancing to the Multi-Regional State Spelling Bee on February 21st in Fergus Falls include: (from left to right) Ivy Blumenshein, Grade 8, Bemidji SD#31; Maximus Katsoulis, Grade 8, Blackduck SD#32; Nickolas Bergman, Grade 6, W/A/O SD#2176; and Jaden Go, Grade 6, Sacred Heart School.  They will compete at the State Spelling Bee in Fergus Falls at the Lakes Country Service Cooperative on February 21st.

 The champion speller of the Multi-Regional State Spelling Bee will compete in the National Spelling Bee in Washington D.C.  

Additional district winning spellers competing in the Regional Spelling Bee included: Adalyn Cockerill, Ada-Borup SD#2854; Katelyn Gust, Badger SD#676; Ivy Blumenshein, Bemidji SD#31; Wyatt Tverstol, Bemidji SD#31; Lael Sanford, Bemidji SD#31; Saskia Bijnagte, Bemidji SD#31;  Maximus Katsoulis, Blackduck SD#32; Elias Haugan, Clearbrook/Gonvick SD 2311; Melody Ortiz, Crookston SD#593; Sierra Landsrud, G/MR SD#2683; Caleb Kiviaho, Goodridge SD#561, Krystal Neuschwander, Grygla SD#447; Kellen Johnson, Lancaster SD#356;  Griffen Fish, LOW SD#390; Brandon Miller, Mahnomen SD#432; Ava Barrett, MCC SD#441; Ramsey Ellingworth, NCE SD#2215; Danika Jenson, Park Rapids SD#309; Ryan Cook, Park Rapids SD#309; Brielle Reinbold, RLCC SD#2906; Delaynna Mortvedt, Roseau SD#682; Rylee Hagen, Roseau SD#682; Warner Danielson, SAC SD#2856; Jaden Go, Sacred Heart School; Aidan Smith, S. Koochiching Rainy River/Indus SD#363;  Alex Fraik, St. Philip's School; Quinn Hetherington, Thief River Falls SD#564; Blair Leeper, Thief River Falls SD#564; Elijah Sollund, Tri-County SD#2358; Nickolas Bergman, W/A/O SD#2176; Megan McGlynn, Win-E-Mac SD#2609

The Multi-Region State Spelling Bee will include Regional Spelling Bee winners from the following Service Cooperative regions: Region 1 & 2 - Northwest Service Cooperative, Thief River Falls; Region 3 - Northeast Service Cooperative, Mt. Iron; Region 4 - Lakes Country Service Cooperative, Fergus Falls; Region 5 - Resource Training & Solutions, St. Cloud; and Regions 6 and 8 - Southwest/West Central Service Cooperatives, Marshall. 

The Spelling Bee is a series of competitions for students in grades 5-8 beginning at the classroom level and progressing on to district, region, state and national levels.  Benefits for students include improved spelling, increased vocabulary, learning concepts, developing correct English usage, developing poise in public performance and community recognition for participation.