Sixth-grade student Phaneendra Bulusu of Harris Road Middle School was crowned the 2024 Cabarrus County Schools’ District Spelling Bee Champion on Thursday at H.E. Winkler Middle School’s Efird Auditorium.

In the 48th round, Phaneendra correctly spelled the Bee’s championship word – grobian – to win his second straight District Spelling Bee.

He will now advance to compete in the Carolina Panthers Regional Spelling Bee, presented by Bank of America, on Sunday, March 17^th at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.

Pratisha Pradhan, an eighth-grade student from Northwest Cabarrus STEM Middle School was the runner-up. 

Thirty students competed in the District Bee representing their elementary and middle schools. The spelling bee is open to students in grades three through eight. 

Congratulations, Phaneendra, and good luck at the Regional! 

2023-24 School level spelling bee winners:

Sydnee Snyder, C. C. Griffin Middle, 7th grade

Manvitha Srinivasaprasad, Charles E. Boger Elementary,.5th grade

Zoe Ward, Carl A. Furr Elem, 5th grade

Sunaina (Sunny) Bura, Hickory Ridge Middle, 8th grade

Phaneendra Bulusu, Harris Road Middle, 6th grade

Luca Kiral, Harrisburg Elementary, 5th grade

Yashvi Kandyala, J. N. Fries Middle, 8th grade

Jessica Karlton-Senaye, W. R. Odell Elementary,.5th grade

Danielle Blackmon, Rocky River Elementary, 5th grade

Isanth Kakarla, Patriots STEM Elementary,3rd grade

Amilya Parker, Weddington Hills Elementary, 5th grade

Luciano Galindo Roca, Winecoff Elementary,5th grade

Chloe Hatfield, Mt. Pleasant Elementary, 5th grade

Mehvish Sermad, iHickory Ridge Elementary, 5th grade

Gabrielle Delano, W. M. Irvin Elementary, 4th grade

Pratisha Pradhan, Northwest Cabarrus STEM Middle, 8th grade

Lilly Heilman, Royal Oaks School of the Arts, 7th grade

Emiko Eubanks, Pitts School Road Elementary, 5th grade

Ishaan Vignesh Babu, Coltrane-Webb STEM Elementary, 5th grade

Erin Lassiter, R. B. McAllister Elementary, 5th grade

Joshua Moore, Bethel Elementary, 5th grade

Chloe Yim, Cox Mill Elementary, 5th grade

Aarav Shejekan, H. E. Winkler Middle, 7th grade

Emily Griffin, Roberta Road Middle, 6th grade

Logan Kalakore, Mt. Pleasant Middle, 7th grade

David Kennerly, Cabarrus Virtual Academy, 7th grade

Isabella Garver, Concord Middle, 8th grade

Camden Shropshire, Beverly Hills STEM Elementary, 5th grade

Holden Rutledge, Wolf Meadow Elementary, 4th grade

Flynn Runion, A. T. Allen Elementary, 5th grade