Camden Middle School -

On Wednesday, January 23rd, the curtain rose on a unique brand of drama at Camden Middle School. In front of a live audience, 52 students were auditioning to play the lead role by the time the night was over. There was no script written out ahead of time, but with careful preparation, you might be able to spell it out letter-by-letter on the fly.

This was the 2025 edition of the Camden Middle School Scripps Spelling Bee. After advancing out of their classroom competitions, the strongest spellers from grades 5-8 took the stage to participate in one of Camden Middle School’s most treasured traditions, as well as a nationwide phenomenon.

This marked the 11th time that Camden has held the Bee under the supervision of Scripps, the organization that leads the National Spelling Bee. Furthermore, the students on stage took part in a major milestone for the long-running event, as 2025 marks the 100th year of the National Spelling Bee.

This year’s Bee set a strong pace out of the gate, as 23 of the 52 competitors on hand tore through the first five rounds without issue. Of note was how well the spellers supported one another and displayed tremendous sportsmanship throughout the night.

The competition progressed into the 18th round, when eighth grader Kenleigh VanWinkle put the finishing touches on her victory. This year’s winning word was “Vial”, defined as a small container, typically cylindrical and made of glass, used especially for holding liquid medicines. While a short word, choosing the correct vowel and avoiding the use of its homonym, “Vile”, offered its own challenge to the competitors.

VanWinkle led a podium sweep by the Class of 2029, with eighth grade classmates Deanna Mikhaylyuk (2nd) and Maycee Armstrong (3rd) rounding out the top triumvirate. With a win, Kenleigh has earned the opportunity to advance to the at-large Scripps regional qualifier if she elects to do so.

This program is hosted by the Camden Middle School ELA/Reading Department with support from Title I.