"Macchiato" was the winning word of the 2024 Pima County Spelling Bee. Tucson Unified's own Ricardo Cabrera, an 8th grader at Dodge Traditional Magnet Middle School, outlasted 36 other spellers to become the 2024 Pima County Champion Speller of the Year on Saturday, February 17. The Spelling Bee lasted 10 rounds and 2.5 hours.
Cabrera and runner-up Bryant Banzhaf (Marana Unified) will advance to the Arizona Educational 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. Third place finisher, Allegra Knerr (Vail Unified), will serve as the alternate for the State Bee.
“Reaching the Pima County Spelling Bee is such a remarkable accomplishment. We are so proud of all our brilliant spellers who competed. Congratulations to our winners. I can’t wait to cheer on Ricardo and Bryant at the State Spelling Bee,” said Pima County School Superintendent Dustin J. Williams.
Thanks to the generosity of presenting sponsor, Volpe Team at NOVA Home Loans, each speller received a customized hat and the top three finishers received tablets.
Congratulations, Ricardo!
