Clint StephensNo Comment

6th Annual SEDC Regional Spelling Bee

Savannah Paul from Washington School District has won the 6th Annual SEDC Regional Spelling Bee for students in grades 3-8. The competition was held on April 16, 2024 at the Iron County School District offices and featured 18 students from Beaver, Kane, Iron, Millard and Washington school districts, as well as students from Valley Academy Charter School in Hurricane, Utah. Kane and Valley Academy are a welcome new addition to this year’s competition. 

Savannah Paul, from Pine View Middle School in Washington, correctly spelled the word “mimicking” in the 17th Round to win the championship. The first runner-up was Audrey Ayala, a Panorama Elementary student in Washington School District. She correctly spelled “dramatize” in the spell-off.  The second runner-up was Hayes Holyoak from Delta Middle School. HIs last correct word was “toggle.”

“We are so proud of Savannah for winning the 6th Annual SEDC Regional Spelling Bee,” said Clint Stephens, the Regional Bee Coordinator at SEDC. “This is a great accomplishment, and we know that Savannah will continue to do great things in the future.”

The SEDC Regional Spelling Bee is an annual competition that is open to students in grades 3-8 from our member school districts and charter schools in southwest Utah. The competition is designed to promote literacy and academic achievement among students, and to provide a venue for students to showcase their talents in an arena outside of athletics. This year saw the most students compete from the most districts and charter schools in the history of our bee. 

“We are grateful to all of the students who participated in the SEDC Regional Spelling Bee,” said Clint Stephens. “We also want to thank the teachers, parents, and administrators who helped to make this event possible.”

If you could not view this year’s bee in person or from our live stream, you can watch the recording here on YouTube.

6th Annual Southwest Educational Development Center Regional Spelling Bee Finalists, L to R: Hayes Holyoak from Delta Middle School, Millard School District; Savannah Paul from Pine View Middle School, Washington SD and Audrey Ayala from Panorama Elementary in Washington SD.
6th Annual Southwest Educational Development Center Regional Spelling Bee Finalists, L to R: Hayes Holyoak from Delta Middle School, Millard School District; Savannah Paul from Pine View Middle School, Washington SD and Audrey Ayala from Panorama Elementary in Washington SD.
2024 SEDC Regional Spelling Bee participants. Back row, L to R: Travis Max Seegmiller, Iron; Grant Pearson, Iron; Harrison Francom, Iron; Hayes Holyoak, Millard; Savannah Paul, Washington; Audrey Ayala, Washington; Kaydee Ure, Beaver; Melody Williams, Beaver. Front row, L to R: Samantha Hart, Kane; Blake Hansen, Kane; Liv Glazier, Kane; Landry Holyoak, Millard; Jens Allen, Millard; Ellie Blackner, Beaver; Lily Burnett, Valley Academy; Brandt Hawkins, Valley Academy. Not pictured: Evan Chiu, Valley Academy and Kennedy Bolke, Washington.
2024 SEDC Regional Spelling Bee participants. Back row, L to R: Travis Max Seegmiller, Iron; Grant Pearson, Iron; Harrison Francom, Iron; Hayes Holyoak, Millard; Savannah Paul, Washington; Audrey Ayala, Washington; Kaydee Ure, Beaver; Melody Williams, Beaver. Front row, L to R: Samantha Hart, Kane; Blake Hansen, Kane; Liv Glazier, Kane; Landry Holyoak, Millard; Jens Allen, Millard; Ellie Blackner, Beaver; Lily Burnett, Valley Academy; Brandt Hawkins, Valley Academy. Not pictured: Evan Chiu, Valley Academy and Kennedy Bolke, Washington.
Pronouncers podium, judges, video streaming gear and rows of proud parents and family members await the start of the 6th Annual SEDC Regional Spelling Bee, in the Boardrooms of Iron County School District in Cedar City, Utah.
Pronouncers podium, judges, video streaming gear and rows of proud parents and family members await the start of the 6th Annual SEDC Regional Spelling Bee, in the Boardrooms of Iron County School District in Cedar City, Utah.