The Knights of Columbus spelling bee winners include, from left, Nicholas Catanoso, second place, Isabella Frame, first place, and Flora Morris, third place. (Photo courtesy of Sea Isle City)
The Knights of Columbus Madonna Maria Council 3560, of St. Joseph Catholic Church, hosted their annual spelling bee for eighth graders on Feb. 23.
This year, 11 students from nearby schools competed for cash prizes during the event – and along the way the young competitors were asked to spell increasingly difficult words as the bee progressed.
Some of the more difficult words the students were challenged to spell included Beijing (capital of China), Saltarellos (the Italian or Spanish dance), Piraeus (city in Greece), Charcuterie (an appetizer often including meats and cheeses), and hobbledehoy (a clumsy or awkward youth).
Clearly impressed by the skills the students were displaying during the spelling bee, one adult audience member was overheard whispering, “Forget spelling them ... I can’t even pronounce or define many of these words.”
When the spelling was done, three students from Bishop McHugh Regional School took home the first, second and third place prizes.
The first-place winner was Isabella Frame, of Cape May Court House, who received the top prize of $250. Nicholas Catanoso, of Cape May Court House, took second place and a prize of $150. Flora Morris, of Marmora, place third and won $100.
As the first-place winner, Isabella will be invited to compete in a Diocesan spelling bee later this year.
According to Knights of Columbus member Mike Jargowsky, the evening was “extremely successful.”
“The kids did themselves proud,” said Jargowsky, who served as the spelling bee’s moderator. “This year, the students went further into the word list than any previous spelling bee we hosted, and it was clear they were very well-prepared.”
To learn more about the Knights of Columbus of St. Joseph Church, go to 
