Leeslie Lopez and Corey Brewer are this year's Gainesville City School System spelling bee champions.
Lopez, a student at New Holland Knowledge Academy, is the elementary school champion and Moriah Council of Enota MI Academy is the runner-up.
Elementary school participates included Ella Grace Lawler, Hassan Khan, Hunter Elsarelli, Leeslie Lopez, Marvin Medina, Eduardo Rosas, Jahliyah Brady, Quintavous Holcomb, Esperanza Sanchez, Dante Carter, Moriah Council, Erick Willock, and Joseph Montoya.
Brewer, a 6th-grade student at Gainesville Middle School, is the middle school champion, and Noah Mitchell, an 8th-grader at the school, is runner-up. Brewer will represent GMS at the District Spelling Bee on March 18 in Winder.
Sixty one contestants competed in the GMS Spelling Bee competition. The participants were Yenny Villegas, Tiavia Bradford, Walker Elliott, Lizbeth Penaloza, Cody Brewer, Aiden Mattingly, Jimmy Mai, Vincent Barbee, Oziel Guevara, Itzel Zepeda, Cameran Cantrell, Harley Moon, Xanat Cabrera, Whitley Wright, Tiana Lord, Charles “Heath” Waddell, Eric Barahona, Itzel-Pastor-Lozano, Isabella Folger, Vanessa Cortez, Kaylee Vazquez, Mirna Arevalo Castillo, Jonlyn Forest, Jose Aguilar, Sara Lazo, Rehabeth Bitege, Alexandra Richemond, Liz Rodriguez, Amari Thompson, Jennisa Rivera, Andi Rodriguez, Keiunna Harrison, Jhaischan King, Jasmin Nguyen, Isaiah Willock, Kimberly Turcios, Luis Mendiola, David Rocona, Jenna Pannek, Juana Lopez, Kendal Glasper, Karina Gonzalez, Kenneth Maldonado, Yoenn Lara, Noah Mitchell, Yareli Aguilar, Anh ( Lenny ) Lam Tran, Jocelyn Escamilla, Estrella Tovar, Cassandra Sanchez, Kayleigh Horst, Luis Mendoza, Giovani Martinez, Christian Vazquez, Nami Meeks, Gloria Bonilla, John Gerrell, Yeicy Velasquez, Darius Ellison, Herzon Salinas and Amearez Carroll.
