Gabriella Stavrev, a 5th grade student at Dr. George Washington Carver Elementary School, won the Bryan County Schools District level Spelling Bee on Friday, January 14, at the Bryan County Schools Board of Education building.

 Gabriella won by correctly spelling the word “vaccination”, a word closely related to Merriam-Webster’s 2021 Word of the Year, vaccine. Seemly fitting to end on that particular word.

Students from 4 elementary schools and 2 middle schools in Bryan County hosted school-level Spelling Bees to determine the candidate to advance to the district level competition.

 All students competing at the district level competition did a phenomenal job, making it to round 7 before the first elimination occurred. A total of 15 rounds were completed prior to the 6 Championship rounds in which Aubrey Hester, a 5th grade student from McAllister Elementary competed against Gabriella.

Gabriella will be moving on to the Region level Spelling Bee to be held on February 26, 2022, at Georgia Southern University’s Armstrong Campus in Savannah. The winner of the Region Spelling Bee will advance to the state level Spelling Bee on March 18, 2022 in Atlanta.

“We are proud of all students who competed today.  The hard work and dedication that it takes to make it to this level is an accomplishment in itself.” stated Trey Robertson, Assistant Superintendent for Teaching & Learning and Student Services.