Burris student wins Ball State PBS Regional Spelling Bee

MUNCIE, Ind. — Leo Furlong, a fifth-grader at Burris Laboratory School, is the champion of the 2024 Ball State PBS Regional Spelling Bee.

Leo's winning word was “jalapeño.”

The competition, involving nearly 40 spellers from several local school systems, lasted 12 rounds, according to a news release published by Ball State University.

The first runner-up was Kim Servan, a fifth-grader from Royerton Elementary School. Second runner-up was a tie between Ainsley Falloon, a sixth-grader at Northside Middle School and TaMerra Edwards, an eighth-grader from Driver Middle School in Winchester.

Spellers competed at Sursa Performance Hall on March 9 in an event that will be broadcast on Ball State PBS at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 6, and at 8:30 p.m. Thursday, April 11.

Leo advances to compete in the 2024 Scripps National Spelling Bee near Washington, D.C. The semifinals on May 29 and the finals on May 30 will be televised on ION.