Hagiographer - definition: the writing of the lives of saints. It blows my mind that an 8th grader would even know that word. When prepping for the spelling bee, do you think they get a massive book of words that are rarely used, if ever? Regardless, this is super impressive. Huge shoutout to Allie Hoffert, the Southeast Minnesota Spelling Bee champ!

Allie is an 8th grader at Northfield Public Schools and was one of twelve spellers that competed in the Final Spelling Bee earlier this month. The twelve students were narrowed down from 76 students from 36 districts in Southeast Minnesota who participated in the two Regional Spelling Bees.

Allie advances to the 93rd annual Scripps National Spelling Bee in May. She won a trip (for herself and one adult) to Washington, D.C. She also received a first-place trophy, Webster’s Third New International Dictionary, 2020 United States Mint Proof Set, and a one-year subscription to Britannica Online Premium and Valerie’s Spelling Bee Supplement Booklet.

Isaac Ahn, a 7th-grade student from Schaefer Academy, was the 1st Runner-Up. Ezra Hake, a 5th-grade student from Schaefer Academy, was the 2nd Runner-Up. Carly Backen from Chatfield, Annaka Binner from Kasson-Mantorville, Leo Brunelle from Northfield, Grace Schroeder from Pine Island, Eva Passe from Plainview-Elgin-Millville, Aubrey Ingvalson from Rushford-Peterson, Samuel Passe from St. Felix, Ashley Goller from Stewartville, and Hadyn Brown from Winona also participated in the Final Spelling Bee.

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