Orange, CA – May 22, 2018 – Orange Unified School District is proud to announce that 60 contestants from OUSD’s four comprehensive high schools competed in spelling close to 700 Spanish words at the District’s Second Annual Spanish Spelling Bee this past Saturday morning in the District Office Boardrooms.

Villa Park High School student Benjamin Martinez won first place, El Modena High School student Stephanie Jimenez earned second place, and Villa Park Spartan Kim Xu took third place. 

This year’s event was coordinated by Brenda Ochoa, Villa Park High School world languages department chair, alongside fellow Spanish teachers Nora Alvarez from Canyon High School, Tracey Awwad and Luz Pineda from Orange High School, and Corey Schuld from El Modena High School.

The Spanish Spelling Bee was created as a District-wide opportunity to broadcast the importance of bilingualism and the lifelong opportunities brought by speaking more than one language. Ochoa had the original inspiration for the first Spanish Spelling Bee and brought it to fruition with the support of Villa Park High School Principal Ken Miller, Ed.D.

Orange High School administrators Dennis McCuistion, Celinna Pinelo, Jeff Morgan, and Nathan Garrett also played an important role in this year’s event, along with parents and community members.

The organizing committee is working towards involving schools from other districts in future events to eventually work up to hosting Orange Unified’s first National Spelling Bee. The Spanish Spelling Bee is just one example of the many progressive student opportunities and District-wide events happening at OUSD.

Orange Unified School District is an innovative educational organization that embraces collaboration and student engagement in learning activities that prepare them to be global citizens.