Arizona PBS to Host 2016 Arizona State Spelling Bee

WHAT:  The public is invited to join Arizona PBS to watch the state’s top spellers through eighth grade compete in the 2016 Arizona Educational Foundation Spelling Bee. The spelling bee will be taped with a live audience on Saturday, March 19, 2016 at 1 p.m. at Arizona PBS in Studio A. Footage from the event will be edited by Arizona PBS into a 60-minute program premiering on Wednesday, April 20 at 9 p.m. on Arizona PBS.

An Arizona PBS original production made possible by the Arizona Educational Foundation.

WHO:  Twenty-seven students will compete in this state spelling bee. These students earned their places in the state competition by winning their school spelling bees, regional spelling bees and county spelling bees to join the other finalists in competing in the 2016 AEF Arizona Spelling Bee. The winner of the competition will receive an all-expenses paid trip to Washington, D.C. to represent Arizona in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Arizona’s poet laureate Alberto Rios will once again serve as the event host and emcee.

Contestants (by county):

Apache – Kameryn Greer (7^th grade, St. Johns Middle School, St. Johns)

Cochise – Ethan Johnson (8^th grade, Center for Academic Success, Sierra Vista)

Coconino – Katrina Vollmer (7^th grade, San Francisco de Asis Catholic School, Flagstaff)

Gila – Chris Provido, (8^th grade, High Desert Middle School, Globe)

Graham – Callie Konopnicki (8^th grade, Safford Middle School, Safford)

Greenlee – Keanna Cortez (8^th grade, Fairbanks Middle School, Morenci)

LaPaz – Adianne Alamban (8^th grade, Wallace Jr. High School, Parker)

Maricopa 1 – Tommy LaPenna (8^th grade, Kyrene Middle School, Tempe)

Maricopa 1 – Jackson Springer (5^th grade, Barbara Bush Elementary School, Mesa)

Maricopa 2 – Nicola Ferguson (7^th grade, Sunrise Middle School, Scottsdale)

Maricopa 2 – Keshav Nandakumar (8^th grade, Sierra Verde STEM Academy, Glendale)

Maricopa 3 – Lindsay Davis (6^th grade, Vista del Sur Accelerated Academy, Laveen)

Maricopa 3 – Amutha Rajasundaram (4^th grade, Madison Heights Elementary School)

Maricopa 4 – Michael Davey (7^th grade, Parkridge Elementary School, Peoria)

Maricopa 4 – Jaidyn Mallon (6^th grade, Lookout Mountain Elementary School, Phoenix)

Maricopa 5 – Tatiana Asadourian (6^th grade, Desert Oasis Elementary School, Surprise)

Maricopa 5 – Chelsea Lee (8^th grade, Westpoint Elementary School, Surprise)

Maricopa 6 – Michael Chen (7^th grade, BASIS Chandler, Chandler)

Maricopa 6 – Amber Kassisieh (8^th grade, South Valley Jr. High School, Gilbert)

Mohave – Johan Perea (6^th grade, Havasupai Elementary School, Lake Havasu City)

Navajo – Jett Jue (6^th grade, Bonnie Brennan Elementary School, Winslow)

Pima – Matthew Glasshoff (8^th grade, Marana Middle School, Marana)

Pima – Sai Konkimalla (5^th grade, BASIS Oro Valley, Oro Valley)

Pinal – Freya Abraham (8^th grade, Legacy Traditional School, Maricopa)

Santa Cruz – Grecia Solorio (5^th grade, Mary L. Welty Elementary School, Nogales)

Yavapai – Tanner Dodt (6^th grade, Heritage Christian Home Educators, Prescott Valley)

Yuma – Yazan Abdella (8^th grade, Crane Middle School, Yuma)

WHERE:  Arizona PBS Studios, 555 N. Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85004, Studio A, 6^th floor

WHEN:  Saturday, March 19 at 1 p.m.

PHOTO OPPS:  The 2016 AEF Spelling Bee contestants competing on stage for the opportunity to earn the top spelling honor in Arizona and advance to the national spelling bee in Washington, D.C.