Diocesan Spelling Bee brings out B-E-S-T in Catholic school students

The drama built over the course of nearly three hours on the Mount St. Mary Academy stage as the original 49 contestants wound down to three during the 3rd annual Diocesan Spelling Bee.

The contestants dutifully spelled words culled from the gold standard of word procurement – the Scripps Spelling Bee.

Seventeen diocesan grammar schools participated and students from fourth through eighth grade were chosen by their schools to compete on the diocesan level at a Feb. 10 event that was a reschedule from an original date postponed during Catholic Schools Week because of inclement weather.

Michael Mroziak, senior communication specialist with the diocesan Communications Department, served as master of ceremonies and provided the words to be spelled to the contestants.  The bee was organized and coordinated through the diocesan Catholic Schools Department. 

Correct spellings allowed contestants to return to the place on the stage. An incorrect spelling was met with the ring of the bell and the contestant was excused.

Nearing the 9 p.m. hour, three contestants remained in the battle of words.  The winning word, for which there are two acceptable spellings, was callipers or calipers, a measuring instrument with two legs or jaws that can be adjusted to determine thickness, diameter and distance between surfaces. The top speller was Colleen Bucki, a sixth grader from St. Gregory the Great School in Williamsville. Placing second, also from St. Greg’s, and a sixth grader, was Madeleine Kauderer, with third place awarded to eighth grader Aubrey O’Connor  from Notre Dame Academy in Buffalo.