In March, Sophia Montana and Brooke Powell tied for first place at the Greater Northern Utah Spelling Bee, earning a trip to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. at the end of May. At the national spelling bee, they tied again, this time for 60th.

Brooke, 13, said being at the national event was one of the best experiences of her life. The Fruit Heights resident, who is homeschooled, made it to the quarterfinals before missing the word “aligreek,” a word considered obsolete by the Oxford Dictionary which states the only known use of the word is in 1867.

“It was really fun meeting all the different spellers and all the different people who helped with the national spelling bee,” Brooke said. “It was a really fun experience in that, if you ever go, make sure you do all the activities.”

The Scripps National Spelling Bee hosted 245 contestants this year, ranging in age from 8 to 15. It also hosted a Bee Week for spellers and their families that included tours of the nation’s capital, educational workshops and special events.

Sophia, 12, represented South Jordan’s Daybreak Elementary at the national spelling bee. She enjoyed the trolley tours through Washington, D.C. and spending time with her cousin. Sophia went through three rounds at the event before getting tripped up on “inspeximus,” a Latin word that translates to “We have inspected.”

“I just missed it by one letter,” Sophia said. “Overall, the experience was pretty good, and it was something new that I haven’t done before. It was just nice being there. I was pretty nervous because I thought, wow, I’m here on the stage, and this is actually happening. But when I was at the microphone, I didn’t feel too nervous.”

Each participant at the national event was given a prize package that included souvenirs, an official certificate of participation and a one-year subscription to Encyclopedia Britannica, Merriam-Webster. 

Bruhat Soma, a 12-year-old from Florida, won the  2024 Scripps National Spelling Bee, after competing in the second-ever spell-off to win the title. Sophia and Brooke were two of four Utah students who represented the state at the 2024 Scripps National Spelling Bee. For more information about the national bee, or a list of contestants, visit SpellingBee.com. 

The City Journals has sponsored the regional spelling bee since 2014 and pays for the trip to Washington, D.C. for the winner and one parent. Planet Tooth Pediatric Dentistry in West Valley sponsored a second speller this year.

Sophia will try next year if her school takes part in the regional spelling bee competition but Brooke hasn’t decided yet if she’s ready for that experience again. They both said that anyone who wants to make it to the national event next year should study, memorize the words and word origins but also make sure to take time to relax and have fun. 

“You have to study as much as you can. But don’t study so much you get burned out,” Sophia said. “Just keep learning and keep practicing. Maybe watch some movies about the bee for inspiration.”