Campus Abuzz About Mustang Spellers

On Tuesday, March 28th, 6 Millbrook students, comprising three teams, traveled with Kathy Havard to Marist College, to compete in Literacy Connections’ 29th annual spelling bee. This event is the non-profit, Literacy Connections of the Hudson Valley’s biggest fundraiser of the year, and the first time it had been held since the pandemic. Millbrook students Bryan Cepeda '25, Chase Courtemanche '25, Ophelia Champon '25, Ethan Davis '24, Ari Hahn '23, and Ella Kneedler '24 faced students from Poughkeepsie High School, Arlington High School, New Paltz High School, Oakwood Friends, as well as many adult teams, to comprise close to 40 teams competing. Millbrook students all acquitted themselves well, spelling 8 or 9 of 10 words correctly in the first rounds. The teams of Ari and Ella, and Ophelia and Ethan, made it to the finals. Ari and Ella went out on the word acolyte, and Ophelia and Ethan, after surviving two rounds of the finals, were eventually eliminated on the word eupepsia.  Arlington won it all - with asphyxiation.  It was an intense competition and a ton of fun. Thanks to Millbrook School and Aramark Dining for sponsoring our teams!