by John Dowd
According to organizers, it is estimated that around 11 million students ranging from grades four through eight will take part in the 2025 National Spelling Bee. Ravalli County participates in the Scripps National Spelling Bee program, which takes place winter and spring across the nation. This year will be the 100th anniversary of the event, and last Thursday evening, students from Darby to Florence showed up to participate.
The county spelling bee was held at Hamilton Middle School and all the students that participated in this county-wide bee won in their respective school districts. All contestants received certificates of their participation in the Ravalli County Spelling Bee, for making it that far.
All words used in the county bee are from the official “2025 Regional Qualifier Competition List,” which was provided by the national Spelling Bee organizers. This list includes 400 words and is the same list used in every district spelling bee in the nation. No one, contestant or teacher, had seen the list prior to the night of the Ravalli County Spelling Bee.
Oliver Pound, a Hamilton eighth grader, wins the Ravalli County Spelling Bee. Photo byJohn Dowd.
The event was also coordinated with help from Regina Plettenberg, Ravalli County Superintendent of Schools and Ravalli County Clerk and Recorder. The pronouncer was Lisa Montgomery, Deputy Clerk for Ravalli County, and the contest was judged by Jana Exner and Dan Whitesitt.
Oliver Pound, an eighth grader from Hamilton, was the winner. According to Montgomery, Pound has won the county spelling bee before. However, because of scheduling conflicts, he will have to turn down going to the state competition. His replacement will be Alleyah Slyter, another eighth grader, from Florence. Slyter won second place in the Ravalli County Spelling Bee.
First and second place winners also received medals. The county winner will go on to represent the county at the Montana Treasure State Spelling Bee. The winner from that bee will go on to represent Montana at the 2025 National Spelling Bee Competition. National Spelling Bee events will all take place between May 26 through May 30 at National Harbor, Maryland. This will also be referred to as Bee Week 2025.
More information regarding national finals can be found after May 1 at www.spellingbee.com.