Sixth-graders from Turlock, Modesto schools win spelling titles

Sixth-graders Joven Hundal and Liah Kim made it past words like fulminating, correspondence, vilification, and hypochondriac Wednesday night to become Stanislaus County Elementary Spelling Champions.

Joven, of Julien Elementary in Turlock Unified, and Liah, of Agnes Baptist Elementary in the Stanislaus Union District in north Modesto, will represent the county at the State Championship in Stockton on April 20. Lakewood fifth-grader Arnov Krishnamoorthi will serve as an alternate.

The event, sponsored by the Stanislaus County Office of Education, challenged 86 students from 54 schools at Johansen High School in Modesto. Harry Bakker, a retired educator served as the Spelling Master and 50 volunteers served as proctors.