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SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, CA – Can you spell the word gamut? What about the word tacitly? The winners of this year’s countywide Spelling Bee certainly can.
Four top spellers from Santa Barbara County have now earned their spot at the 2025 California State Spelling Bee after wowing judges with their word mastery at the March 18, 2025 countywide competition, organized by the Santa Barbara County Education Office.
A total of 63 4th-9th graders participated in the annual spelling competition. Participants were top spellers from elementary, junior high, and high schools throughout Santa Barbara County.
At the elementary school level (4th-6th grade), Washington Elementary 6th grader Marcus Luzzatto-Fegiz took first place with the winning word of “carnivorous.” Second place went to Kellogg Elementary 5th grader Reiko Cabrera for “restaurant.” Kellogg Elementary 6th grader Jake Lee finished in third with the word “pasteurize.”
Luzzatto-Fegiz said of the first-place win: “When I realized that I got first place, my mind went: ‘Yippee!’”
In the junior high division (7th-9th grade), St. Raphael Catholic School 8th grader Abby McBeth brought home the first-place title with the word “unerringly.” Second place went to Carpinteria Middle School 8th grader Emiliano Jimenez for the word “tacitly.” Our Lady of Mount Carmel 7th grader Sonora Landa rounded out the podium in third place, spelling “spicier” correctly.
“It took me a second to realize that I won first place but then I thought: ‘Oh, that’s cool!’” reflected McBeth on the first-place win.
As first and second-place winners, Marcus Luzzatto-Fegiz and Reiko Cabrera are invited to compete in the elementary division and Abby McBeth and Emiliano Jimenez in the junior high division of the California State Spelling Bee on Saturday, April 26, 2025 in Manteca, California. The State Spelling Bee is hosted by the San Joaquin County Office of Education.
“Competing in this public setting takes courage and determination, and highlights these students’ commitment to learning and achieving at the highest level,” shared County Superintendent of Schools Susan Salcido. “We are proud of each and every student speller, and thank the teachers, parents, and volunteers who contributed to this year’s Bee.”
The Santa Barbara County Spelling Bee is a program of the Santa Barbara County Education Office.
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