Ford Motor Company Spelling Bee
The Ford Motor Company Kentucky Derby Festival Spelling Bee showcases Kentucky and Southern Indiana’s top spellers in a suspenseful competition that leaves only one standing. To advance to this event, students must first win their county competition. The top five finishers receive savings bonds from the Kentucky Derby Festival Foundation, while the overall champion gets to ride on the Winner’s Float in the Pegasus® Parade.
Congratulations to our 2020 County Winners!
Anderson County: Willow Bell
Barren County: Brighton Lucas
Bath County: Heather Ott
Bell County: Ethan Reese
Bourbon County: Ashton Baer
Breckinridge County: Om Patel
Butler County: Dalton Hale
Carter County: Jennifer Nguyen
Casey County: Ben Estes
Clark County: Roman Cheney
Clay County: Jaxon Hooker
Edmonson County: Brayden Johnson
Elliott County: Darrell Maxie
Floyd, IN County: Ty O’Neal
Floyd, KY: Ethan Hall
Franklin County: Terrell Clark II
Garrard County: Elise Culross
Grayson County: Landon Shiarella
Greenup County: Peyton Nickel
Hardin County: Braydon Scott
Harlan County: Sayed Damaa
Harrison, IN County: Zaylie Pittman
Jackson, IN County: Conner Nichols
Jackson, KY County: Hannah Abner
Jefferson County: Japjee Dhall
Jefferson Archdiocese of Louisville: Sam Legere
Jefferson Private/ Home Schools: Gabriella Velinova
Jennings County: Jayden Matlock
Kenton County: Lillith Reynolds
Knott County: Kenna Fitzpatrick
Knox County: Samuel Moore
Laurel County: Bailee Storm
Lawrence, IN County: Meryl Klein
Lawrence, KY County: Kendrea Cox
Letcher County: Josiah Akemon
Lincoln County: Eli Burunett-Pledsants
Logan County: Briahna Higgins
Lyon County: Chris McCoy
Martin County: Rileigh Shannon
McCracken County: Ella Chuppe
Meade County: Phinn Witkovskie
Mercer County: Tharun Ekambaram
Metcalfe County: Eli Shaw
Monroe County: Abram Strong
Nelson County: Elizabeth Johnson
Ohio County: Alina Lenzo
Perry County: Cameron Holbrook
Pike County: Eli Tan
Powell County: Skyler Johnson
Pulaski County: Jesse Hampton
Rockcastle County: Anna Chaliff
Rowan County: Felicity McCarty
Russell County: Bailey Burke
Shelby County: Aaron Allen
Simpson County: Crew Mack
Spencer County: Ainsley Brakefield
Warren County: Ariti Gani
Washington County: Alex Taylor
1994: Eric Shields / Franklin County, KY
“succumbence” – the act or process of yielding to a superior strength
1995: Tania James / Jefferson County, KY
“spinescent” – tapering to a sharp, rigid point
1996: Sarah Seelig / Jefferson County, KY
“crescendo” – swelling in volume of sound
1997: David Mandel-Anthony / Fayette County, KY
“stratose” – arranged in layers
1998: Christie Baugher / Floyd County, IN
“tumid” – marked by swelling
1999: Kyra Davies / Fayette County, KY
“ennoble” – to elevate in degree or excellence
2000: Seth Stogsdill / Lincoln County, KY
“parapet” – a rampart raised upon or above the main wall in a permanent fortification
2001: James Croushorn / Harlan County, KY
“Sagittarius” – the ninth sign of the zodiac
2002: John Tamplin / Jefferson County, KY
“Guernsey” – one of a breed of dairy cattle originally raised on the English Channel island of Guernsey
2003: John Tamplin / Jefferson County, KY
“idiosyncratic” – a habit or mannerism particular to an individual.
2004: John Tamplin / Jefferson County, KY
“pansil” – a Buddhist rite of ceremony before meetings.
2005: John Tamplin / Jefferson County, KY
“chatelaine” – a clasp or chain worn at the waist for holding keys, a purse or a watch.
2006: John Tamplin / Jefferson County, KY
“funambulist” – one who performs on a tightrope or a slack rope.
2007: Macy Purcell / Grayson County, KY
“symbiosis” – the living together of two dissimilar organisms
2008: Joshua Caplinger / Carter County, KY
“eucrasia” – a normal state of health
2009: Priyanka Sheth / Warren County, KY
“regime” – a mode or system of government
2010: Emily Keaton / Pike County, KY
“sclerosis” – a hardening of tissue or other anatomical features
2011: Emily Keaton / Pike County, KY
“ankylosaur” – an armor-plated dinosaur
2012: Emily Keaton / Pike County, KY
“oppugn” – to fight against or call into question
2013: Emily Keaton / Pike County, KY
“corvee” – labor exacted by a local authority for little or no pay or instead of taxes and used especially in the maintenance of roads
2014: Paul Keaton / Pike County, KY
“chignon” – a roll or knot of hair worn at the back of the head or a especially at the nape of the neck
2015: Paul Keaton / Pike County, KY
“insentient” – without sensation or consciousness
2016: Tara Singh / Jefferson County Private Schools, KY
“Eponym” – (of a person) giving their name to something
2017: Tara Singh / Jefferson County Private Schools, KY
“Gloxinia” – Any of several tropical South American plans of the genus Sinningia
2018: Tara Singh/Jefferson County Private Schools, KY
“Rathskeller” – A restaurant or tavern, usually below street level, that serves beer
2019: Ophelia Lorenz/Jefferson County Private Schools, KY
“Chihuahua” – A dog of very small breed developed in Mexico, probably from an indigenous breed, having erect pointed ears and a soft ,usually short-haired dog.
