Traut student wins PSD spelling bee; 11 students move on to state bee

Fourth grader Nikhil Ganta is the 2024 champion of the Poudre School District Spelling Bee. The Traut Elementary School student successfully spelled "fluoride" to win the title after competing through 17 rounds with second place winner Ellie Dunigan-Atlee, an eighth grader at Ridgeview Classical Middle School. During the district bee, participants were asked to spell words such as: campanology, doldrums. cauterize, coiffure, dysgraphia, Halifax, and tercentenary.

Congratulations to these 11 students moving on to the Colorado State Spelling Bee:

  • First place: Nikhil Ganta, Traut Elementary School 
  • Second place: Ellie Dunigan-Atlee, Ridgeview Classical Middle School    
  • Third place: Olivia MacLeod, Bethke Elementary School   
  • Enora Zhang, Bamford Elementary School  
  • Zoe Cornman, Beattie Elementary School   
  • Calvin Hunter, Harris Elementary School   
  • Devika Nair, Kinard Middle School  
  • Evelyn Hodge, Kruse Elementary School    
  • Sophia Spink, Lesher Middle School    
  • Oliver Ellis, Liberty Common Elementary School    
  • Bruce Zhou, Liberty Common High School  

The written spelling and vocabulary State Spelling Bee will be held Thursday, Feb. 22, followed by the in-person State Spelling Bee on Saturday, March 9 at Sturm Hall at the University of Denver.

  • First place winner Nikhil Ganta with his parents.
    First place winner Nikhil Ganta with his parents.
  • Second place winner Ellie Dunigan-Atlee with her parents.
    Second place winner Ellie Dunigan-Atlee with her parents.
  • PSD Spelling Bee competitor.
    PSD Spelling Bee competitor.
  • Top PSD spellers.
    Top PSD spellers.
  • PSD Spelling Bee competitors.
    PSD Spelling Bee competitors.
  • PSD Spelling Bee competitor.
    PSD Spelling Bee competitor.