2 Tucson students to vie for state spelling crown

Two local students will be taking part in the 13th annual Arizona Spelling Bee on Saturday. The competition, which will be held in Phoenix, will feature the state's top 27 spellers, ranging in age from 10 to 14. The local competitors are sixth-graders Christopher O'Connor of St. Cyril of Alexandria School and Elliott Groce of Laguna Elementary School. The winner of the bee will represent Arizona in the 85th Annual Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. Prizes include $800 cash, Webster's Third New International Dictionary and a Rosetta Stone language course. The spelling bee is open to the public. It begins at 1 p.m. at the Eight/Arizona PBS studios on the sixth floor of Arizona State University's Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, 555 N. Central Ave. The event is sponsored by the Arizona Educational Foundation, a nonprofit organization that promotes excellence in education through diverse statewide programs and community partnerships. On StarNet: Find more coverage of TUSD and education in Tucson at azstarnet.com/ education