(GMS) — Rihanna De Leon, a 7th grader, emerged as the new Scripps Spelling Bee champion of Green Meadow School after successfully spelling the word “Panuelo” during the championship round on Jan. 27, 2023 at the GMS campus.
De Leon was the last student standing in the 18th round of the competition after besting 17 students from first to eighth grades.
It was a tough win for De Leon as she went head-to-head with three other top spellers who continued to correctly spelled the words from the 2023 Words of the Champion list for five consecutive rounds.
In the 18th round, the pronouncer had drawn out a word not on the official list: “panuelo” which came from a Spanish word meaning “a square cloth folded triangularly and worn in the Philippines like a great ruffle or collar.”
Second place went to Paula Bernardo, 8th grader; Isabella Mallari, 7th grader, came in third; and Rosemarie Gamelo, 8th grader, finished fourth.
The Green Meadow School administrators, faculty, staff and parents would like to congratulate all the participants of the GMS Spelling Bee championship as they were all winners of their classroom Spelling Bee elimination round.
They are:
1st Grade
Liam Roi S. Buston
Nathan Angelo M. Reyes
Kira H. George
2nd Grade
Rhussel Umali
Ian Noel Escarcha
Joseph Paul Leuma
3rd Grade
Jayden Pulido
Jadynn Palacios
Jeron Marzo
4th Grade
Rayne Angela Roquelara
Geri Liam Angelo Espiritu
Albert Miguel Santos
5th Grade
Nicole Tongonan
Jamie Palabay
Jewel Mabaquiao
6th Grade
Paul Andrei Bernardo
Jacie Heart Quindoza
Savan Andrea Rithwong
7th Grade
Rihanna Grace De Leon
Isabella Marie A. Mallari
Nelisa Nicole Acaba
8th Grade
Cody Ryan Santos
Rosemarie Gamelo
Paula Angela Bernardo
From left, 1st runner up Paula Angela Bernardo, champion Rihanna Grace De Leon and 2nd runner up Isabella Marie Mallari.
GMS 2023 Scripps Spelling Champion Rihanna Grace De Leon
