NEW YORK – The Spelling Bee Finals for the students of the Direct Archdiocesan District Greek American parochial day schools were held yesterday, Jan. 10, at the Headquarters of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America with the blessings and in the presence of His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America.

The Spelling Bee finalists with His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Bishop Andonios of Phasiane, chancellor of the Archdiocese, Maria Makedon, director of the DAD Office of Education (left) and Nick Katsoris. president of HTSF.

Eight students, all winners in school competitions, participated in the finals. Garima Vohra, an eighth-grade student of the Jamaica Day School of St. Demetrios was this year’s winner. The winning word was “lieutenant.” Perry Chresomales, an eighth-grade student of “W. Spyropoulos” Greek-American School of St. Nicholas Flushing, was the runner-up.

The other school bees who participated in the Spelling Bee finals are as follows:

Kasey Karaisarides of St. Demetrios Greek-American School, Astoria; Orlando Fonseca of St. Spyridon Parochial School, New York City; Constantinos Banagos of D.G.K. Parochial School of Holy Cross, Brooklyn; Savva Dobronravov of the Greek-American Institute of Zoodohos Peghe Church in the Bronx; Theodora Athanitis of the “A. Fantis” Parochial School of Ss Constantine and Helen Cathedral in Brooklyn and Divna Scepanovic of the Cathedral School, Holy Trinity Cathedral, New York City.

Archbishop Demetrios of America presented each student with a “Certificate of Award” and the Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary.

For the third consecutive year, the Hellenic Times Scholarship Fund (HTSF) sponsored the event and Mr. Nick Katsoris, its president and author the Loukoumi Book Series for young children, offered a scholarship of $100 to each school bee and $500 to the winner.

The Spelling Bee competitions are sponsored by The E.W. Scripps Company, in conjunction with over 260 newspapers around the world, in order to help students improve their spelling, increase their vocabulary, learn concepts, and develop correct English usage. The competitions are open to boys and girls, in grades 5 through 8.  In New York City, competitions for the public and nonpublic schools are sponsored by the newspaper DAILY NEWS.

The Office of Education of the Direct Archdiocesan District coordinates the competitions among the New York City parochial day schools.