PHILLIPSBURG, NJ – Brooke Fehley and Jacob Stewart, both seventh graders at Phillipsburg Middle School, were awarded as Spelling Bee Champions on Wednesday, January 24, 2024, after competing in the Phillipsburg Spelling Bee Finals.
Fehley and Stewart were two out of a total of 11 students who made it to the Phillipsburg Spelling Bee Finals, according to PMS Principal Dr. Raffaele LaForgia.
“Students were slowly withered down to two final competitors who spelled 200 words and competed in an epic 70 rounds,” explained LaForgia.
In order to move to the Spelling Bee Regionals, Fehley and Stewart competed once again. During this match-up, the pair was given words they had never seen before and competed for an additional 12 rounds, totaling 82 rounds.
“After 70 rounds and running out of words, we congratulate Brooke Fehley and Jacob Stewart!” LaForgia wrote on Instagram. “We had to have a spell off to narrow it down to one person who will represent PMS in the area spelling bee finals. After another 12 rounds, we congratulate Jacob Stewart as the PMS champ. We are so proud of all of our participants and to Brooke and Jacob for their phenomenal display and sportsmanship.”