Holland Hill Boy Wins Fairfield's Spelling Bee

FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Niam Kothari, Christopher Murray and Richard Sanchez established themselves as Fairfield’s top spellers last week. The three fifth-graders were the top finishers in the Town-Wide Spelling Bee.

Kothari, a Holland Hill School student, took home first place by outlasting more than 40 other students from Fairfield’s public and private schools. He correctly spelled the final word, “ambulance,” to knock out North Stratfield’s Murray, the second-place finisher. Sanchez, a McKinley student, came in third.

All three boys received medals and monetary gifts donated by The Bank of Fairfield, Chase and People’s United Bank. Kothari and Murray also earned a spot in the state-wide Junior Women’s Club Spelling Bee in Wallingford in May. Sanchez will serve as an alternate in case the other two boys are unable to attend.

The competition was co-sponsored by the Junior Women’s Club of Fairfield and Fairfield University’s Graduate School of Education and Allied Professions. Christine Siegel, assistant dean of the Graduate School, Anna Henry, former director of Connecticut Junior Women, Inc., and Caitlin Mazzola, editor of the Fairfield Patch, served as judges.

“It was truly inspiring to host so many of Fairfield’s talented students for a night of exciting, fun and friendly competition,” Spelling Bee Chair Erin Fusco said in a press release. “The Fairfield Spelling Bee is a three-decade tradition, and each year it serves to spotlight the success and dedication of the students and the schools across our town.”

 

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