The Prince Edward County Public Schools representative, Ezekiel Retuya, did very well at the 51st Annual Richmond Regional Spelling Bee at the Richmond Raceway on March 12, 2025. There were 26 competitors representing areas such as Charlottesville, Lancaster, Buckingham, and Richmond. After the practice round, Ezekiel spelled shindig, graham, boondoggle, and hallucinate, as well as correctly answered vocabulary questions. Ezekiel was one of 6 contestants remaining. The challenge came from a word that originates from East Asia - koji. The following round included word selections from the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary. Second place was awarded to Rohith Thomas from Tuckahoe Middle School in Henrico, one of several returning competitors. First place was awarded to Harper Cox from Robious Middle School in Chesterfield County. We are so proud of Ezekiel Retuya! Thank you, Ezekiel, for your dedication and we are excited for your continued academic success!