Burris Student Wins Third WIPB-TV Spelling Bee

2018 WIPB-TV Spelling Bee Champion is interviewed by host Michelle Kinsey during the awards ceremony. Andrew Toney and Samori McKell-Jeffers stand by, holding their first runner-up and second runner-up trophies, respectively. Photo provided.2018 WIPB-TV Spelling Bee Champion is interviewed by host Michelle Kinsey during the awards ceremony. Andrew Toney and Samori McKell-Jeffers stand by, holding their first runner-up and second runner-up trophies, respectively. Photo provided.

By: Michelle Kinsey, Community Engagement Coordinator, WIPB-TV—

Muncie, IN—After 40 rounds, Burris Laboratory School fifth-grader Alesya Rathinasamy was named the champion Saturday of the third WIPB-TV Spelling Bee.

Nearly 60 school champions from Delaware, Jay, Blackford, Randolph, Madison and Henry counties competed this year in Sursa Performance Hall, on the campus of Ball State University.

The first runner-up was Andrew Toney of Lee L. Driver Middle School in Winchester. Second runner-up was Samori McKell-Jeffers from Royerton Elementary School.

Rathinasamy will now go on to compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in May in Washington, D.C.

Rathinasamy has competed in all three WIPB Spelling Bee competitions. She placed second in the first bee in 2016. She finished third in 2017.

Burris Laboratory School student Alesya Rathinasamy, at the microphone spelling a word, is the winner of the third WIPB-TV Spelling Bee. Photo provided.

Burris Laboratory School student Alesya Rathinasamy, at the microphone spelling a word, is the winner of the third WIPB-TV Spelling Bee. Photo provided.

WIPB broadcasted the regional bee LIVE. You can watch a recording of that broadcast at www.wipb.org.

Pronouncer was BSU English professor Lynne Stallings. Judges were Stephanie Wiechmann, host of Indiana Public Radio’s “All Things Considered” and Monique Armstrong, Program Director for TeenWorks in Muncie and Indianapolis. Recorder was Kamna Agarwal, occupational therapist a long-time spelling bee coach.

Last year’s WIPB Spelling Bee champion was Caleb Roberts, a student at Heritage Hall Christian School, who won this area’s longest bee in recent history by spelling the word “perpend.” The champ in 2016 was Samantha Academia, who was a student at Yorktown Middle School.

Ball State University Teachers College generously contributed the funds to cover the Scripps fees for schools to participate. Presenting sponsor of the 2018 WIPB Spelling Bee was Family Vision Care.

Other sponsors include Avila Orthodontics, Dr. Leland C. Wilhoite DDS, MutualBank, Boyce Systems, MITS and Navient.

Below is a list of all of the students who competed in the WIPB-TV Spelling Bee this year:


Christina Sowinski – Union City Jr./Sr. High School

Kyleigh Markwell  Westlawn Elementary School

Claire Hummel – Willard Elementary School

Darian Seale – South View Elementary School

Camren Hill – Montpelier Elementary School

Asher Moystner – Deerfield Elementary School

Madison Fridley – Pendleton Heights Middle School

Sarah Glunt – Randolph Southern Elementary School

Samori McKell-Jeffers – Royerton Elementary School

Dametrius Hull – Heritage Hall Christian School (middle)

Rylee Dunica – North Side Elementary School (Hartford City)

Chloe Wicker – Union Elementary School (Modoc)

Lukas Sullivan – Alexandria-Monroe Intermediate

Stacey Glunt – Randolph Southern Jr./Sr. High School

Joseph Tungate-Roblero

Guinevere Robertson – Monroe Central Elementary School

Elijah Stephens – West Jay County Middle School

Jade Nuckols – Redkey Elementary School

Robert Berger – St. Lawrence Elementary School

Caleb Cunningham – Heritage Hall Christian School (elementary)

Sophie Tuite – East Washington Academy

Lucy Arnold – Homeschool Explorers (middle)

Calypso McAlister – Northside Middle School

Daisy Muhlenkamp – Bloomfield Elementary School

Alesya Rathinasamy  – Burris Laboratory School (elementary)

Natalie Mann – Selma Elementary School

Tyler Cadle – Selma Middle School

Ethan Klinger – West View Elementary School

Erin Kelley – Yorktown Elementary School

Brandon Isler – Delta Middle School

Zackary Fulk – North Side Elementary School (Union City)

Jayden Harrell – Judge Haynes Elementary School

Radley Richman – Wes-Del Elementary School

Kaleb Day – East Elementary School (Pendleton

Jayden Sorrell – Maple Ridge Elementary School

Ian Forster – Liberty Christian Elementary School

Blake Kahlig – East Elementary School (Portland)

Christopher Rench – Eaton Elementary School

Grace Brewster  – East Jay County Middle School

Victor Garrett – Cowan Jr./Sr. High School

Lexii Upchurch – Homeschool Explorers (elementary)

Brady Monsivais – Union Jr./Sr. High School

Raphael Sabijon – St. Pope John Paul II Middle School

Trooper Bullock  – Albany Elementary School

Allie Trimble – Cowan Elementary School

Kellsy Franklin – North View Elementary School

Shae Punzal – St. Mary Elementary School

Abigail Fouts – Yorktown Middle School

Madisyn West – Wes-Del Jr./Sr. High School

Jaylon Smith – Grissom Elementary School

Avery Barbosa-Hayes – Pendleton Elementary School

Andrew Toney  – Lee L. Driver Middle School

Hannah Cain – Frankton Elementary School

Aubrey Dillon – Blue River Valley Elementary School

Kaden Greiner – Burris Laboratory School (middle)

Maela Cole – Southside Middle School

For more information about the WIPB Spelling Bee, contact Community Engagement Coordinator Michelle Kinsey at (765) 285-5887 or mkinsey@bsu.edu.

A Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) affiliate, WIPB-TV is licensed to Ball State University and serves nearly 1.5 million people in east central Indiana and western Ohio. WIPB endeavors to educate, entertain and engage the communities we serve through distinctive television programs and enriching community engagement. For more information call 800-252-9472 or visit WIPB online at http://www.wipb.org.