CHARLOTTE — In the end it all came down to one word: cathartic.
Being able to spell that word, which stems from Greek and means a strong release of emotion, helped fifth-grader Benjamin Carney from Our Lady of Grace School in Greensboro win the annual Diocesan Spelling Bee held Jan. 23 in the Fine Arts Center at Charlotte Catholic High School.
Open to students in fourth through eighth grades, the annual competition is an unofficial kick-off to Catholic Schools Week, which begins Jan. 26. It’s also a chance for the kids to show off their impressive spelling skills. Students from 13 diocesan schools made it to the bee after winning at the school level.
Through more than 20 rounds, they successfully spelled words that stumped many adults in the crowd.
The words started out relatively simple: brother, critters, indeed, smock and military. As each round progressed, the words got trickier. Students who misspelled a word were eliminated. Some of the words that tripped spellers up: prosecutor, sentient and vociferous.
Some of the more obscure words the spellers tackled: puncheon, psychometry and imperator. Others that were spelled correctly included aesthetic, importune, hydraulics and noncommittal.
In the end there were only two: Ben and fourth-grader James Fisher from St. Ann School in Charlotte. The two boys went back and forth spelling words until finally in the 21st round James misspelled the word “consolation” and Ben got “cathartic” right.
The two competitors shook hands, and Ben was presented with a certificate by Dr. Greg Monroe, superintendent of Catholic schools.
Asked what it was like to prepare for a spelling bee, Ben said “it was a lot of note-taking and study.” His parents helped by quizzing him regularly.
“Getting ready for this was kind of fascinating, learning the order of letters and how to spell the words – it’s like a game,” he said. He compared learning spelling words to another favorite pastime of his – playing trivia, with his favorite topic being geography. When he’s not in school or practicing spelling, Ben also likes to play basketball and video games.
The spelling bee had his parents, Ryan and Jessica Carney of Greensboro, on the edge of their seats.
“I was probably more nervous than he was,” Ryan Carney said.
Ben’s mom said her son’s win was a result of several weeks of preparation, beginning with studying lists of words for the bee at Our Lady of Grace. After he won that, he only had a little over a week to learn the 41-page list of possible words for the diocesan competition.
His victory on Thursday isn’t the end of Ben’s spelling journey. His win earned him the chance to participate in an upcoming spelling bee sponsored by the Carolina Panthers. Two online competitions will be held – one in North Carolina, the other in South Carolina – and the victors of each will meet in a head-to-head championship in Charlotte. The winner of that bee will earn a trip to the National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., in late May.
The spelling bee was a chance for the competitors to be in the spotlight, according to aAssistant Superintendent Allana-Rae Ramkissoon.
“This gives students with a special talent for spelling and memory a chance to shine, and it also shows off the academic excellence we have in our schools,” she said.
Other participants in the diocesan bee were Azlan Bell from Sacred Heart School, Mason Bokor of St. Gabriel School, Amelia Dorville from Our Lady of Mercy School, Stephanie Ford of St. Mark School, Frank Gareis of St. Michael School, Aiden Hower from St. Pius X School, Shiloh Kangauka of Our Lady of the Assumption School, Hailey Maciaszek of Immaculate Heart of Mary School, Trung Nguyen from Holy Trinity Middle School, Pete Stewart from St. Patrick School and Alexandra Weiderman from St. Matthew School.
— Christina Lee Knauss
This week we celebrate National Catholic Schools Week, and this year we highlight our Catholic schools as “United in Faith and Community.” This celebration comes during a very special time in the Church – a Jubilee Year, which only happens once every 25 years. Pope Francis has designated 2025 as the Jubilee Year of Hope.
In our fast-paced world, it’s easy to feel uncertain about what lies ahead. Yet, every day in our Catholic schools, we’re reminded of the uniting power of faith and hope – values that guide us, even in tough times.
You see, hope is more than just wishful thinking. It’s the belief that no matter what we face in life – good times and bad – Jesus loves us and remains with us. And when we share our hope and faith by encouraging and helping each other, we make our world a brighter, better place.
That’s what makes our Catholic schools so special. Here, students are challenged to pursue excellence, with caring, highly qualified teachers and staff who work closely with students and their parents. But it’s not just about academics. Catholic Schools are about educating the whole child – mind, body and spirit – so students can grow closer to God and each other, then go out to transform the world.
I challenge you to think about what faith and hope mean to you. Whether it’s working as a team, being kind to your classmates or simply doing your best on homework – when you act with faith and hope, you help build up our entire school community and you begin to change the world.
As we go through this week, let’s lean into hope – hope for each other, hope for the future, and hope in the One who loves us: Jesus.
Thank you for being part of what makes our Catholic schools truly special. Let’s make this week – and this Jubilee Year – a beautiful example of being united in faith and hope.
Bishop Michael T. Martin delivered this video address to students, teachers and school staff across the diocese in honor of Catholic Schools Week.
Catholic Schools Week in photos:
