On Jan. 29, 28 students representing grades three through eight stood on stage at the Buford High School Performing Arts Center spelling a variety of words.
At the end of Buford City Schools’ District Spelling Bee, Ayush Nagaraj, an eighth grader at Buford Middle School, emerged the winner. Nagaraj spelled two consecutive words to win the event — euphoria and gondolas.
Taking runner-up was Susie Kim, a seventh grader at Buford Middle.
Nagaraj will represent Buford City Schools at the Georgia Regional Spelling Bee on Feb. 22.
Lisa Cole, a teacher at Buford High School, Janet Graves, a retired Buford educator, and Kathleen Welch, a BCSS graduate and current member of the Board of Education, served as judges for the competition. Dr. Tim Harris, who serves as director of Curriculum & Instruction for Buford City Schools, called the words for the 28 spellers.
About Ayush Nagaraj
“Ayush Nagaraj has had an exciting year full of achievements,” according to district spelling bee coordinator Stephanie Ledford. “He earned a spot in the Allstate Orchestra after passing both the first and second rounds of auditions. In February, he will perform at the Classics Center in Athens, Georgia. He has also been part of the District Honors Orchestra, showing his dedication to music.
“At Buford Middle School, he is a student leader and has made the Honor Roll every year. Outside of school, he stays active in many different activities. He has won several USTA tennis tournaments and is preparing to try out for the Buford tennis team. He also earned his first-degree black belt in karate through The Dojo in Flowery Branch.
“Academically, he pushes himself by taking summer courses in science and social studies through the Johns Hopkins program. He also enjoys math and has been involved with Mathnasium, where he plans to be a student teacher this summer.
“With his hard work in music, academics, and sports, Ayush is achieving great things and continues to strive for more.”
About Susie Kim
“In addition to a love for spelling, one of Susie Kim’s favorite school activities is orchestra,” Ledford writes. “Music has been an important part of her school experience, both as an interest and an extracurricular activity. Academically, Susie has consistently excelled, earning Honor Roll throughout her years at Riverside Elementary School and continuing this achievement in sixth grade at North Gwinnett and seventh grade at Buford Middle School.”
FEATURED PHOTO: Buford City School System administrators stand for a photo with the winner of the district spelling bee, Ayush Nagaraj, second from left, and runner-up Susie Kim, fourth from left. Photo courtesy of Buford City Schools.
