Fifth-grader wins Henrico County Public Schools’ Divisionwide Spelling Bee

For the first time since 2014, an elementary school student is the winner of the Henrico County Public Schools’ Divisionwide Spelling Bee.

Nuckols Farm Elementary School fifth-grader Mu Zhen Yong correctly spelled “jambalaya” in the 11th round to claim the title Jan. 18 at Glen Allen High School. Emi Brinegar, an eighth grader at Tuckahoe Middle School, was runner-up. The annual competition includes spelling champions from each of HCPS’s elementary and middle schools.

Among the other words Yong spelled correctly to win the title were “detritus,” “quorum” and “aromatherapy.”

After the bee, Yong was presented with the HCPS spelling trophy by division representatives, including Kristi Kinsella (HCPS School Board vice chair and Brookland District representative) and Superintendent Amy Cashwell.
The trophy, topped with a whimsical bee, will be on display at Nuckols Farm until at least next January, when a new champion is crowned.

The award was made possible by a donation from four-time Henrico spelling champion Tejas Muthusamy, the last elementary student to win the event. The Henrico Education Foundation had the trophy made.

Yong now will move on to represent Henrico County Public Schools in the Richmond Times-Dispatch Regional Spelling Bee. The regional winner will advance to the Scripps National Spelling Bee, which is held the week of Memorial Day and televised by ESPN.