A Blue Mountain student took home the top prize on Saturday at Schuylkill County's Regional Spelling Bee.
The 2025 Northeast PA Manufacturers & Employers Council (NEPA MAEC) Regional Spelling Bee took place on Saturday, March 8, 2024, at DHH Lengel Middle School's auditorium in Pottsville.
The event, organized by Schuylkill Technology Center, welcomed thirty-nine spellers representing Schuylkill County public and non-public schools.
After 14 intense rounds of spelling, Rowena Cresswell-Blickley, a seventh-grade student from Blue Mountain Middle School, emerged victorious. The winning word that secured her triumph was “orthochromatic.”
The competition grew increasingly challenging as the field narrowed to just three competitors in round nine: Rowena Cresswell-Blickley, Riley Jordan of DHH Lengel Middle School in Pottsville, and Jeffrey Salcedo of Mahanoy Area Middle School. The trio continued to compete until Rowena's successful spelling in the 14th round secured her the top spot.
As the 2025 NEPA MAEC Regional Spelling Bee champion, Rowena will advance to the prestigious Scripps National Spelling Bee, set to take place during the week of May 25, 2025, at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland.
In addition to the opportunity to compete on the national stage, Rowena received several prizes, including a one-year subscription to Merriam-Webster Unabridged, a one-year subscription to Britannica Online Premium, a specially designed trophy crafted by students in Schuylkill Technology Center's Precision Machine Trades Program, and a $50 gift card generously provided by the Delta Kappa Gamma International Society.
Pictured are Shannon Brennan of Schuylkill Technology Center; Mr. Blickley, Rowena’s father; Rowena Cresswell-Blickley, the winner; Ms. Cresswell-Blickley, Rowena's mother; Ms. Stephanie Gaddy, Spelling Bee Coach; Darlene Robbins of NEPA MAEC; and Courtney Fasnacht of NEPA MAEC.