Evan Fahie, a Lockhart K-8 School student, emerged as the champion of the 52nd Territorial Spelling Bee after an intense 44-round contest, the longest in recent years. The competition reached its climax when Fahie correctly spelled “formica” to secure his victory. For 25 of those rounds, Fahie, Rayan Felix, and Jamir Greaux battled head-to-head, leaving onlookers biting their nails as the trio showcased their spelling proficiency, endurance, and unwavering commitment to the event.
The competition was held at the Bertha C. Boschulte Middle School Auditorium, drawing coaches, families, and community leaders to support the 12 students competing for a chance to represent the territory at the upcoming National Spelling Bee. Melanie Walwyn coached Fahie.
Virgin Islands Education Department Deputy Commissioner Renee Charleswell commended the participants, stating, “To be a great speller requires focus and precision, but to be a dynamic speller requires passion, endurance, and a deep love for words and their origins.”
Felix, a Free Will Baptist School student, finished as the first runner-up, marking his second consecutive year as a top finisher after securing the same position in last year’s competition. Greaux, a Eulalie Rivera PreK-8 School student, earned second runner-up honors, rounding out a trio of exceptional spellers representing the best of the territory’s young talent.
Schools represented in the competition included Lockhart K-8 School, All Saints Cathedral School, Yvonne E. Milliner Bowsky Elementary School, Calvary Christian Academy, New Testament Academy, Eulalie Rivera PreK-8 School, Free Will Baptist School, Good Hope Country Day School, Pearl B. Larsen PreK-8 School, Ricardo Richards Elementary School, St. Patrick’s School, and a home-school participant.
All participants received a medallion, a certificate of participation, and a prize package, including a backpack bundle, flash drive, notebook, mouse pad, book bundle, and a Virgin Islands Territorial T-shirt. The top three finishers received additional prizes, including a spelling bee trophy, a Chromebook, and a Longman Dictionary.
As the champion, Fahie was awarded a one-year subscription to the Scripps National Spelling Bee’s official dictionary, a battery power bank, a U.S. Virgin Islands Social Studies Civics textbook, two round-trip tickets on Seaborne Airlines, and a six-night stay for two at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland. During Memorial Day week, he will represent the U.S. Virgin Islands at the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
Sponsors, including the Virgin Islands Daily News, the Virgin Islands Education Department, the State Office of Curriculum and Instruction, Scholastic, Inc., Cane Bay Cares, Pearson, and Seaborne Airlines, supported the event.
