St. Rose student takes third place in Spelldown competition

July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
St. Rose student takes third place in Spelldown competition
St. Rose student takes third place in Spelldown competition


Two students from Catholic schools in the diocese were among a select few to make it to the second day of the Spelldown Regional Spelling Bee on the campus of Monmouth University, West Long Branch.

Out of a field of 99 students from public and private schools across Monmouth, Ocean and Middlesex Counties, all of whom had won their own school competitions, students from St. Rose School, Belmar, and St. Denis School, Manasquan out-spelled their counterparts to advance to the second day.

Aine Donohue of Wall, a seventh grader in St. Rose, finished in third place overall, making her the only Catholic school student to place in the prestigious competition. Donohue had finished 10th overall in last year’s spelling bee.

Joseph Cavanaugh, eighth grader in St. Denis School, also made it to the second day but was eliminated in the first round of the finals.

Donohue defeated 25 other St. Rose students to earn her spot in the regional competition. She was one of the last four spellers remaining in the competition when she misspelled the word "cryology." When another competitor misspelled his word as well, the two students then had to compete in a spelloff to determine who would come in third place. Donohue spelled her word, "pecuniary," correctly while her competitor misspelled his word, hence giving third place to Donohue.

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Two students from Catholic schools in the diocese were among a select few to make it to the second day of the Spelldown Regional Spelling Bee on the campus of Monmouth University, West Long Branch.

Out of a field of 99 students from public and private schools across Monmouth, Ocean and Middlesex Counties, all of whom had won their own school competitions, students from St. Rose School, Belmar, and St. Denis School, Manasquan out-spelled their counterparts to advance to the second day.

Aine Donohue of Wall, a seventh grader in St. Rose, finished in third place overall, making her the only Catholic school student to place in the prestigious competition. Donohue had finished 10th overall in last year’s spelling bee.

Joseph Cavanaugh, eighth grader in St. Denis School, also made it to the second day but was eliminated in the first round of the finals.

Donohue defeated 25 other St. Rose students to earn her spot in the regional competition. She was one of the last four spellers remaining in the competition when she misspelled the word "cryology." When another competitor misspelled his word as well, the two students then had to compete in a spelloff to determine who would come in third place. Donohue spelled her word, "pecuniary," correctly while her competitor misspelled his word, hence giving third place to Donohue.

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