TOP SPELLERS — Andrew Macdonald, an eighth-grader at Bishop John King Mussio Junior High School, emerged the winner of the 39th-annual Jefferson-Harrison County Regional Spelling Bee Presented by the Herald-Star Saturday at Buckeye North Elementary School. Macdonald also won last year’s bee and will again compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington in May. With Macdonald, at the far left in front, for a presentation of awards to the 10 finalists are, from left, front: Erin Joyce, a sixth grader at Bishop John King Mussio Elementary School, second place; Ava Mizak, a seventh-grader at Bishop John King Mussio Junior High School, third place; Jocelyn Saltsman, an eighth-grader at Jefferson County Christian School; fourth place; Susie Safranski, a sixth-grader at Bishop John King Mussio Elementary School, fifth place; and back: Ross Gallabrese, executive editor of the Herald-Star and The Weirton Daily Times; Jonas Eddy, an eighth-grader at Buckeye Local Junior High School, sixth place; Joseph Taylor, an eighth-grader at Harrison Central Junior-Senior High School, seventh place; Katie Summers, a seventh-grader at Harrison Central Junior-Senior High, eighth place; Anthony Riley, a sixth-grader at Indian Creek Middle School, ninth place; Sophia Sedgmer, a sixth-grader at Harrison Central Elementary School, 10th place; and Ron Sismondo, director of the Jefferson County Educational Service Center and a co-coordinator for the bee. -- Warren Scott

BRILLIANT — While eighth-grader Andrew Macdonald of Bishop John King Mussio Junior High School may have felt the tension of a funambulist, or tightrope walker, he displayed the easy rhythm of a reggae singer, after correctly spelling the two words and many others in the Jefferson-Harrison County Regional Spelling Bee Presented by the Herald-Star, Saturday.

It’s the second consecutive win for Macdonald, the son of Paul and Suzanne Macdonald of Steubenville, who again will represent this area in the Scripps National Spelling Bee, which will be held May 28-June 3 in Washington, D.C.

Asked how he felt at the end of the regional competition, which was held at Buckeye North Elementary School, Macdonald said, “I’m relieved.”

“My goal this year was to go to the national competition again,” he said, adding to prepare for the regional event, he studied a website containing thousands of words compiled by a spelling bee coach and was tested on them by his mother.

Ross Gallabrese, executive editor of the Herald-Star, noted the bee’s 49 competitors spelled 142 words in the eight rounds that totaled one hour and 45 minutes.

Among the many words spelled correctly by the students were: Crumpet, abominable, consequent, terrarium, lithophone, specificity, harrier, cairn, nutation, metatarsal and glabella.

In addition to Macdonald, the top 10 regional finalists included: Erin Joyce, a sixth-grader at Bishop John King Mussio Elementary School, second place; Ava Mizak, a seventh-grader at Bishop John King Mussio Junior High School, third place; Jocelyn Saltsman, an eighth-grader at Jefferson County Christian School; fourth place; Susie Safranski, a sixth grader at Bishop John King Mussio Elementary School, fifth place;Jonas Eddy, an eighth-grader at Buckeye Local Junior High School, sixth place; Joseph Taylor, an eighth-grader at Harrison Central Junior-Senior High School, seventh place; Katie Summers, a seventh-grader at harrison Central Junior-Senior High, eighth place; Anthony Riley, a sixth-grader at Indian Creek Middle School, ninth place; and Sophia Sedgmer, a sixth-grader at Harrison Central Elementary School, 10th place.

As the winner, Macdonald will receive a six-night stay at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center during the national bee, courtesy of the bee’s sponsors and the Jefferson County Educational Service Center; a $250 gift from the JCESC, a one-year subscription to Britannica Online Premium from Encyclopedia Britannica, and a one-year subscription to Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary Online.

He also will receive the Samuel Louis Sugarman Award, which is a 2023 U.S. Mint proof set donated by Jay Sugarman, chairman and chief executive officer of iStar Financial, in honor of his father, who revered academic achievement.

As the second-place finisher, Joyce will receive Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 11th Edition, which was donated by Merriam-Webster through the Herald-Star; and a $150 gift from the JCESC.

As the third-place finisher, Mizak will receive Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Thesaurus, Second Edition; and a $50 gift from the JCESC.

Eastern Gateway Community College provided $25 gifts to those who placed fourth through 10th place.

For placing fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively, Saltsman, Safranski and Eddy also will receive Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Thesaurus, Second Edition.

Also serving as sponsors for the bee were: Special Tactics and Rescue Training, Old Glory Embroidery, Ascent Resources, PNC Bank, the Mingo Knights of Columbus, Ohio Lottery and Gary W. Cain Realty & Auctioneers.

Gallabrese and Ron Sismondo, director of the Jefferson County Educational Service Center, applauded the students and the many parents and other family members and teachers and other school personnel who helped the students to prepare for the competition.

Sismondo noted all of the participants were top finishers of bees held in their respective school districts last fall.

The students represented the Buckeye Local, Edison Local, Harrison Hills City, Indian Creek Local, Steubenville City and Toronto City school districts, as well as the Heart of Mary Homeschool Association.

Serving as co-coordinators with Sismondo were Amber Fomenko, Linda Lenzi and Patty Ferrell.