 2465 Gillespie Street
Fayetteville, NC 28306
Contact:
Renarta Moyd
Communications Manager, Communications and Community Engagement
Phone: 910-678-2307
Email: renartac@ccs.k12.nc.us
For Immediate Release:
February 14, 2025
Eighth Grader Triumphs in CCS Spelling Bee,
Claims Championship Title
Fayetteville, NC – Congratulations to Zachary Thurnher, an eighth grader at Seventy-First Classical Middle School, who after 44 rounds 'snatched' Cumberland County Schools' (CCS) Championship Spelling Bee title. To capture the win, he correctly spelled "inquest."
Nine students competed in the Preliminary Level II Spelling Bees, which took place this week and concluded today with the championship competition in the William "Bill" Harrison Educational Resource Center.
Parents, teachers, fellow students and staff eagerly watched as each participant stepped up to the microphone, showcasing their impressive spelling skills to the audience.
Nine students competed in the Championship Spelling Bee after winning their school’s level I and district’s level II competitions. This year's second-place winner was Emma Umana-Young, a fourth-grade student at William H. Owen Elementary School.
"I am incredibly proud of all the students who competed in this year’s Spelling Bee," said Dr. Melody Chalmers McClain, the associate superintendent of School Support. "Their dedication, hard work and impressive spelling skills were truly on display today. Each participant demonstrated remarkable confidence and perseverance, making this an exciting competition for everyone in attendance."
In addition to qualifying for the national competition, Zachary also won the following prizes:
- The Samuel Louis Sugarman Award, a 2024 United States Mint Proof Set provided by Jay Sugarman, chairman and CEO of iStar Financial, in honor of his father. Zachary will receive this prize in the summer.
- The Britannica Online Premium, a one-year subscription to the premier online resource from Encyclopedia Britannica.
- The Merriam-Webster Unabridged Online, a one-year subscription to the official word source for all levels of competition for the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
Zachary now advances to compete in the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee this summer near Washington, D.C., courtesy of Cumberland County Schools. The semi-finals will take place May 27-29 and will be televised on ION and Bounce.
CCS' 2025 Spelling Bee Champ Zachary Thurnher proudly grips his coveted trophy.
Dr. Chalmers McClain expresses words of congratulations to all of the Spelling Bee competitors as they look on.
Parents, teachers, fellow students and district staff applaud the students' impressive spelling skills.
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