News Detail

Sixth grader wins RE middle school spelling bee

A sixth grader prevailed in the annual middle school spelling bee after two days of competition and a 14-round finale on November 20: Lele Suarez-Fortunati '32 claimed the 2025-26 title after correctly spelling salaam and apartheid. She will represent Ransom Everglades in the 86th annual Miami Herald Spelling Bee next spring; she edged Rohan Harihari '30, who finished second, and Shivam Gupta '31, who claimed third place.
Thirty-seven students participated in an initial spelling test in October, which narrowed the field to 11 students. English teacher Jody Salzinger oversaw the competition, which always provides a fun and competitive test for students.

Middle School Spelling Bee Finalists
Isa Arango ‘32
Maya Bettinger-Lopez  ‘31  
Shivam Gupta ‘31 
Rohan Harihara ‘30
Charlie Kaufman ‘32
Annabelle LaConti ‘32
Eliana Lufti  ‘32 
Noah Mitchell ‘31
Nitin Seshadri ‘31
Lele Suarez-Fortunati ‘32
Andres Tovar ‘32 
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2045 South Bayshore Drive, Coconut Grove, FL 33133
Phone: 305 250 6850

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Founded in 1903, Ransom Everglades School is a coeducational, college preparatory day school for grades 6 - 12 located on two campuses in Coconut Grove, Florida. Ransom Everglades School produces graduates who "believe that they are in the world not so much for what they can get out of it as for what they can put into it." The school provides rigorous college preparation that promotes the student's sense of identity, community, personal integrity and values for a productive and satisfying life, and prepares the student to lead and to contribute to society.


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