Knights of Columbus Spelling Bee finalists advance to state competition
Three eighth-grade students from the Archdiocese of Newark will compete in the New Jersey State Knights of Columbus 2024 Spelling Bee in April.
After competing in the Knights of Columbus Spelling Bee at the archdiocesan level on Sunday, March 10, Vihaan Gadodia of St. Francis Academy in Union City placed first; Elizabeth Lan of Queen of Peace School in North Arlington placed second; and Adrian Bowser of Christ the Teacher Academy in Fort Lee placed third. The trio will advance to the state finals, where they will be pitted against contenders from the Dioceses of Metuchen, Camden, and Trenton, vying for the coveted title of New Jersey State Knights of Columbus 2024 Spelling Bee Champion.
This year, the Knights of Columbus Mary Immaculate Council #12769 sponsored the competition that took place at Immaculate Conception Church in Secaucus. Bill and Marianne Mackey, former educators and Knight volunteers, moderated the bee.
Both private and public school students compete in the bee. This year, all three students moved on to the state competition hailed from Catholic schools within the Archdiocese, and are the children of Knights.
Bowser, who placed third overall in the competition, said he has been preparing for the spelling competition for years. “I always wanted to get to the Knights of Columbus regional spelling bee since the 4th grade. I can’t wait for States in April,” Bowser said.
The archdiocesan winners each received cash prizes of $100. The prizes were provided by the Chapters and Federations of the Knights of Columbus across the four counties of the Archdiocese of Newark. The first-place winner, Gadodia, also received a plaque for his victory.
The statewide Knights of Columbus Spelling Bee will take place on Sunday, April 7, at the Church of the Epiphany in Brick. Of the Knights of Columbus across
The spelling competition in the Archdiocese of Newark has been held since 2005 for eighth graders in public and private schools. Students compete within their schools, and then at the archdiocesan level.
“We want to foster a love for learning,” said Vito Mazza, a retired educator, and chairman of the Archdiocesan Knights of Columbus Spelling Bee. “Good communication and strong vocabulary are both necessary qualities for good leadership. We are trying to develop the communication skills of any student who participates in our bees.”
The Knights of Columbus is a Catholic fraternal organization founded on the principles of charity, unity, and fraternity. The Knights of Columbus councils of the Archdiocese of Newark have traditionally partnered with local schools and parishes to host this regional spelling bee each year.
Featured image: At the March 10 spelling bee, Vito Mazza, Archdiocesan Spelling Bee Chairmen, stands with the spelling bee winners Adrian Bowser, Elizabeth Lan, and Vihaan Gadodia, and moderators Bill and Marianne Mackey.
