Serena Yeddu, Jasmine Fernandez to compete in O-U Spelling Bee

Two girls stand with man in suit. — Eighth grader Serena Yeddu, left, and seventh grader Jasmine Fernandez are pictured with C. J. Hooker Middle School Principal Dr. William Rolon after winning the school-level spelling bee for their respective grade levels. The two will compete in the Orange-Ulster BOCES Spelling Bee on March 14.

Eighth grader Serena Yeddu and seventh grader Jasmine Fernandez were named winner o the C. J. Hooker Middle School’s annual school-wide spelling bee on Friday, February 22.

Nineteen seventh and eighth graders participated in the bee after fighting for their spot as the top scorers from the classroom-level spelling bees.

The school bee went nine rounds, with the winning word “indelible.”

Jasmine and Serena will advance to the Orange-Ulster Spelling Bee on March 14 at Orange-Ulster BOCES. The 19 participants were:

Grade 7

Kia Ghezel-Ayagh
Thomas Quinones
Axel Jackson
Grant Moore
Jared Seecharran
Michael Bonito
Michael Hulse
Jasmine Fernandez
Nicholas Santoro
Liam Lynch

Grade 8

Julisa Posada
Ben Thurtle
Xander Danella
Mia Colangelo
Christopher Whitney
Maria Mathew
Jason Barnes
Serena Yeddu
Halle Glasgow

Group of smiling students in library — The 19 participants of the school-wide spelling bee at C. J. Hooker Middle School.