The Tent Was Buzzing

It was another beautiful day for the annual GFFE Spelling Bee at the Guilford Fair, a cherished tradition that brings together students, families, and community members in a celebration of literacy.

As always, this year's event took place on Guilford Fair Parade day Saturday, September 20th, under the spacious main event tent on the Guilford Fairgrounds, which were bustling with excitement and anticipation. The atmosphere was electric, filled with the sounds of laughter and chatter as attendees gathered to support the young spellers. It seemed that this year's Fair was more packed then ever - probably due to the combination of exceptional weather and the amazing kids at the bee! 43 students participated from our four elementary schools and Baldwin Middle School, and made their way onto the spelling bee stage after passing the preliminary rounds held in their classrooms, which were open to students in grades three through six. These preliminary rounds not only tested their spelling abilities but also encouraged camaraderie and school spirit among the participants.

The event was expertly led by our emcees, who are beloved figures in the community, Julie Fitzpatrick and Peter Palumbo. Their dynamic personalities and infectious enthusiasm filled the tent, creating an inviting atmosphere that put the young spellers at ease. Their clever commentary and encouragement helped to alleviate the nerves of the contestants, allowing them to focus on the task at hand and showcase their hard work and preparation. They also made sure to put a spotlight on The Guilford Fund for Education's work over the past 20 years and thanking our sponsors who help make grants happen. A special thank you to yearly sponsors Breakwater Books and Fresh Monkee for contributing to the participant bags.

The competition was strong as always across all grades, with each student demonstrating impressive skills. Our sixth-grade students moved through the word list with a speed and proficiency that not only captivated the audience but also ended the event in a thrilling tie! This outcome was a testament to their dedication and the support they received from their teachers and families.

The winners of the day were:

3rd Grade: Quinn Benoit (Melissa Jones)

4th Grade: Alexander Grosev (A.W. Cox)

5th Grade: Leena Petersen (Baldwin) - Winner of her grade 3 years in a row!

6th Grade: Ben Hoyt & Eva Chiorazzi (Baldwin)

View the photos in the 2025 Kids' Spelling Bee Gallery

The GFFE Kids' Spelling Bee is not a feeder to any state or national competition stage, there is typically no news coverage, and it is not a fundraiser for GFFE as it's completely free. The volunteers continue to hold it because it represents the heart of Guilford. Each year these kids remind us how to be brave and support each other. They work through struggle and they cheer each other on. And often they leave us on the edge of our seat!

Congratulations to all of these amazing participants - see you in 2026!

Anna	Chiu	Grade 3	AW Cox
Elliot	Dillard	Grade 3	AW Cox
Emily	Vallario	Grade 3	AW Cox
Serena	Amin	Grade 3	Calvin Leete
Jonah	Bakhoum	Grade 3	Calvin Leete
Emma	Voloshin	Grade 3	Calvin Leete
Simone	Celli Colunga	Grade 3	Guilford Lakes
Skylar	Preston	Grade 3	Guilford Lakes
Joey	Samoskevich	Grade 3	Guilford Lakes
Giulio	Vittorio	Grade 3	Guilford Lakes
Quinn	Benoit	Grade 3	Melissa Jones
Emily	Sylvia	Grade 3	Melissa Jones
Alexander	Zhou	Grade 3	Melissa Jones
Alexander	Grosev	Grade 4	AW Cox
Maksim	Kuzmin	Grade 4	AW Cox
Henry	Schaefer	Grade 4	AW Cox
Henry	Broderson	Grade 4	Calvin Leete
Rylan	Chang	Grade 4	Calvin Leete
Clark	Hetherington	Grade 4	Calvin Leete
Kelvin	Wei	Grade 4	Calvin Leete
Maya	Alwash	Grade 4	Guilford Lakes
Nolan	McCarthy	Grade 4	Guilford Lakes
Brita	Sulpasso	Grade 4	Guilford Lakes
Julia	Zhang	Grade 4	Guilford Lakes
Gianna	DeFrancesco	Grade 4	Melissa Jones
Kensi	Gentile	Grade 4	Melissa Jones
Mason	McCormack	Grade 4	Melissa Jones
Emily	Arnold	Grade 5	Baldwin
Leroy	Chang	Grade 5	Baldwin
Cylas	Jowett	Grade 5	Baldwin
Will	Ostrander	Grade 5	Baldwin
Leena	Petersen	Grade 5	Baldwin
William	Stoian	Grade 5	Baldwin
John (Jack)	Valois	Grade 5	Baldwin
Sebastian	Yoo	Grade 5	Baldwin
Zayden	Ahmad	Grade 6	Baldwin
Eva	Chiorazzi	Grade 6	Baldwin
Dominic	Cretella	Grade 6	Baldwin
Blake	Davidson	Grade 6	Baldwin
Max	Grubaugh	Grade 6	Baldwin
Ben	Hoyt	Grade 6	Baldwin
Brendan	Merrins	Grade 6	Baldwin
Remy	Swiantek	Grade 6	Baldwin