arizona daily star
“Macchiato” was the winning word in the 2024 Pima County Spelling Bee, but the winner isn't old enough to work at Starbucks or Dutch Bros. and write it on a cup. (This refers to espresso with a little foamed steamed milk added.)
Ricardo Cabrera, an eighth-grader at Dodge Magnet Middle School in the Tucson Unified School District, beat out 36 other spellers to become the county champion.
The runner-up was Bryant Banzhaf, a fifth-grader at Rattlesnake Ridge Elementary School in the Marana Unified School District.
The spelling bee lasted 10 rounds, 2 1/2 hours, and was hosted by Canyon del Oro High School.
Cabrera and Banzhaf will advance to the Arizona Education Foundation State Spelling Bee on March 16 in Phoenix. They will compete against winners from other counties to represent Arizona at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Maryland in May.
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Allegra Kuner, who placed third in Pima County and is a seventh-grader at Desert Sky Middle School in the Vail Unified School District, will be an alternate in the state bee.
The Pima County Schools Superintendent's Office said in a news release Saturday that the top three students received tablets thanks to the Volpe team, sponsored by NOVA Home Loan.
The news release also recognized Tobi Marcus, a sixth-grader at Legacy Traditional School Northwestern who placed fourth.
For a complete list of contestants, please visit the Pima County Schools Superintendent's Office. Facebook page.
