Meet the contestants: North Florida’s top spellers of 2021 This year’s regional spelling bee will be held on Zoom
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The best fifth- through eighth-grade spellers from 14 counties in Northeast and North Central Florida will compete later this month in the 77th annual First Coast Spelling Bee.
Like everything else during this pandemic, this year’s bee will be different. Rather than gathering in an auditorium, the March 29 bee will be held on Zoom.
The full list is below, including some names you might remember if you’ve been watching the bee on The Local Station for the last few years as four are returning county champions:
This is the fourth regional bee for Erik Williams from Clay County. He has won two of the last three years. It’s Manischa Wijayawardhana of St. Johns County’s third regional bee.
Armand Küykendall of Putnam County is also back for a third regional bee.
Ashton Tabor from Hamilton Count is back in the regionals for a second time.
The 14 county winners in the order they will compete on March 29 OPEN: Details, photos of our 14 contestants
Copyright 2021 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.
Food trucks give back to Brantley County community ▶ 0:53
Food trucks give back to Brantley County community
Firefighters struggling to get Brantley County fire under control amid difficult conditions ▶ 0:50
Firefighters struggling to get Brantley County fire under control amid difficult conditions
Microgreen madness II It's brunch-tastic! Warning: If you're hungry, this may make you hangry ▶ 4:11
Microgreen madness II It's brunch-tastic! Warning: If you're hungry, this may make you hangry
New mandatory evacuations ordered in Brantley County as wildfire threatens homes ▶ 1:15
New mandatory evacuations ordered in Brantley County as wildfire threatens homes
‘My heart felt like it dropped’: Brantley County wildfire destroyed ‘99%’ of homes on two roads ▶ 1:22
‘My heart felt like it dropped’: Brantley County wildfire destroyed ‘99%’ of homes on two roads
First-hand look at how fire lines are saving properties in Clay, Putnam counties ▶ 0:56
First-hand look at how fire lines are saving properties in Clay, Putnam counties
How first responders, local community are stepping up during wildfires ▶ 1:15
How first responders, local community are stepping up during wildfires
Shared Sorrow: Video shows moments when Brantley County family finds home destroyed by wildfire ▶ 0:53
Shared Sorrow: Video shows moments when Brantley County family finds home destroyed by wildfire
Spring football: Creekside gets early jump on spring practice ▶ 0:58
Spring football: Creekside gets early jump on spring practice
EARTH DAY 🌎 Clean space, clear mind… and a cleaner planet ▶ 2:17
EARTH DAY 🌎 Clean space, clear mind… and a cleaner planet
Jacksonville wastewater plan could reshape North Florida water supply ▶ 0:49
Jacksonville wastewater plan could reshape North Florida water supply
‘Not going to abandon the vendors’: Owner of popular food truck site pushes back against closure ▶ 1:06
‘Not going to abandon the vendors’: Owner of popular food truck site pushes back against closure
Jacksonville councilman says HealthLink Jax investigation into misuse complaints nearing completion ▶ 0:47
Jacksonville councilman says HealthLink Jax investigation into misuse complaints nearing completion
Schools closed, mandatory evacuations issued amid 1,500-acre wildfire in Brantley County ▶ 1:13
Schools closed, mandatory evacuations issued amid 1,500-acre wildfire in Brantley County
Florida attorney general targets OpenAI over ChatGPT’s role in FSU campus shooting ▶ 1:26
Florida attorney general targets OpenAI over ChatGPT’s role in FSU campus shooting
Nutritious & Delicious with Richard Nunn ▶ 3:09
Nutritious & Delicious with Richard Nunn
Behind-the-scenes with fire crews battling Railroad Fire in Clay, Putnam counties ▶ 0:55
Behind-the-scenes with fire crews battling Railroad Fire in Clay, Putnam counties
Officials ask homeowners to do their part to protect property as wildfire rages ▶ 0:54
Officials ask homeowners to do their part to protect property as wildfire rages
How you can help fire crews working to protect homes, businesses in Clay, Putnam ▶ 1:07
How you can help fire crews working to protect homes, businesses in Clay, Putnam
Clay, Putnam wildfires merge into ‘unpredictable’ 4K-acre Railroad Fire ▶ 1:03
Clay, Putnam wildfires merge into ‘unpredictable’ 4K-acre Railroad Fire
Fighting fires from the sky ▶ 0:33
Fighting fires from the sky
How community is rallying to save halfway house after I-TEAM report reveals inspection oversights ▶ 1:10
How community is rallying to save halfway house after I-TEAM report reveals inspection oversights
It's a great day for a motorcycle ride. Dry and warmer this week. Look twice for motorcycles ▶ 0:24
It's a great day for a motorcycle ride. Dry and warmer this week. Look twice for motorcycles
Equestrian Center opens doors for those who need to evacuate horses, livestock from wildfires ▶ 0:35
Equestrian Center opens doors for those who need to evacuate horses, livestock from wildfires
What you need to know about wildfires burning in Clay, Putnam counties ▶ 0:32
What you need to know about wildfires burning in Clay, Putnam counties
Previous photo Next photo