Top 3 winners (l-r) Sanders Chavez, San Jose Succotz RC; Jamira Hines, St. Peter Clever and Jace Williams, All Saints Anglican
by Charles Gladden
ORANGE WALK TOWN, Mon. June 9, 2025
Bowen and Bowen held its 28th annual National Spelling Bee competition in Orange Walk Town on Friday, June 6, at the Muffles College Auditorium.
“Today is a celebration of words; but more than that, it’s a celebration of curiosity, discipline, and the incredible power of young minds. To the finalists, you have already proven yourselves through hard work, late-night study sessions, and unwavering focus. No matter the outcome, you have inspired us all, which is something to buzz about,” said Nolan Michael, Chief Research and Development Officer at Bowen and Bowen.
This year’s competition featured 12 finalists – Jeilhy Pena of Santa Clara SDA and Gianni Zetina of Corozal Nazarene from the Corozal District; Israel Landero of Bullet Tree SDA Primary and Sanders Chavez of San Jose Succotz RC in the Cayo District; Jace Williams of All Saints Anglican and Alyssa Rodriguez of St. John’s Vianney in the Belize District; Humberto Mendez of Nuevo San Juan RC and Elia Gomez of La Inmaculada RC from the Orange Walk District; Rose Reyes of One Bethel SDA and Jamira Hines of St. Peter Claver RC from the Toledo District; and Orville Cal of San Isidro Government School and Aisha Ical of Silk Grass Methodist from the Stann Creek District.
After approximately three hours of intense spelling, Sanders Chavez of San Jose Succotz RC in the Cayo District secured the title of Spelling Bee Champion.
“I got not that hard words like other students, and that made me win. I couldn’t hold my emotions, and I started crying because of how excited I was; and I was nervous because I couldn’t believe I won,” he said.
The runner up was Jace Williams of All Saints Anglican in the Belize District, and Jamira Hines of St. Peter Claver RC in the Toledo District secured the third spot.
The top three received trophies with an assortment of school supplies, and the other contestants received a range of prizes.
“Spelling bees play a significant role in the academic development of students by enhancing language skills, expanding vocabulary, and strengthening cognitive abilities. These competitions go beyond memorization, fostering a deeper understanding of language structure, word origins, and correct usage skills,” said Roshean Flowers, winner of the Bowen and Bowen Essay Competition.
“One major benefit of participating in spelling bees is vocabulary enrichment. Students are introduced to a wide range of words, including uncommon and advanced terms, encouraging them to explore meaning, pronunciation, and context. This not only improves their linguistic expression, but also boosts reading comprehension and writing proficiency skills,” he added.
The contestants had to be enrolled in a registered primary school within Belize and recognized by the Ministry of Education, and had to be students in standard four, five or six.