Student wins regional round, will compete in nationals
An eighth grader from H.B. Thompson Middle School was the queen bee at Hofstra University recently, winning the Long Island Regional Spelling Bee and punching her ticket to the finals in May.
The student, Rika Mizoguchi, will represent Long Island at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., May 25-26, after outlasting 125 contestants representing schools from Nassau and Suffolk counties. To take the top prize, Mizoguchi beat out 35 other finalists by correctly spelling the word “adnate” in the 17th round of the regional bee.
“The H.B. Thompson Middle School family congratulates Rika on this very impressive accomplishment,” said H.B. Thompson principal James Kassebaum. “Rika emerged as our school champion to qualify for the regionals, and we are proud to have her represent Syosset and serve as an ambassador for Long Island on the national stage in Washington. She is a hardworking and humble student, and we wish her well in her quest to become a national champion speller.”
First runner-up in the competition at Hofstra was Sheryl Lin from Island Trees Middle School in Levittown. Making it to the final four spellers in the competition were Ryan Himmelsbach of Setauket Elementary School and Anna Romero of Babylon Junior-Senior High School.
Hofstra associate professor of writing studies and composition and associate director of the Digital Research Center Ethna Lay served as head judge. Jeffrey Morosoff, assistant professor of journalism, media studies and public relations, read the words and answered questions about their definitions and languages of origin. Assistant professors of writing studies and composition Yvonne Stephens and Lisa M. Dresner served as record keeper and the ringer, respectively.
ESPN will live broadcast the Bee’s championship finals on Thursday, May 26, from 8 to 10 p.m.
