In a nail-biting national final filled with “firsts,” the fourth annual National Spelling Bee crowned its champions, including a historic win for Pullenvale State School.
Jillian Strong, a 10-year-old student, clinched the title, marking the first time a Queensland student has won the national competition. The final round proved challenging, with no student achieving a perfect score. All three new champions scored an impressive 29 out of 30.
Jillian’s Journey to Victory
Jillian, the only finalist in the Orange level (Years 5-6) category nationwide to achieve a near-perfect score, completed the final round in an impressive 2 minutes and 1.685 seconds. Reflecting on her previous performance, she remarked, “Last year, I came fifth. I was nervous before the final but mostly excited that I made it that far.”
The word that proved elusive for Jillian was “frontispiece.” She admitted that she never heard it before but still tried her luck.
A passionate reader, Jillian expressed her enjoyment of the competition, highlighting the timer’s added challenge and the words’ unpredictable nature. She is still deciding what word to ask the PM Anthony Albanese when they meet, but she is leaning towards a medical term, noting their often silent letters and unique pronunciations.
Other National Champions
Photo Credit: Screengrab from Google Map
The competition also saw other remarkable victories. Aditya Paul, a 13-year-old from Sydney Grammar School, clinched the Red Level (Years 7-8) championship with a swift time of 1 minute and 34.433 seconds. Echo Feng from Brindabella Christian College in Canberra secured the Green level (Years 3-4) title with a careful and deliberate performance.
State and Territory Highlights
The Spelling Bee showcased exceptional talent from across Australia. While absent from the winner’s circle this year, Victoria boasted impressive performances, particularly from Nischal Y of Melbourne Grammar School.
South Australia also shone, with Chloe D of St Dominic’s Priory College achieving the state’s top result. Tasmania celebrated its best performance to date, with Bella-Rose M of St John’s Catholic School securing the national Second Runner Up position in the Orange level.
The Northern Territory also made its mark, with Amy S of Haileybury Rendall School placing in the top 10 nationally.
The National Spelling Bee continues to inspire and challenge young minds nationwide, fostering a love for language and learning.
Published Date 23-September-2024
