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By randy whalen For the Bugle
Jones 7th grader won Will Co. spelling bee Ira Jones Middle School seventhgrader Alanur Mescioglu will represent Will County in the national Spelling Bee this year. Mescioglu bested 29 other competitors on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, at Lincoln-Way West High School to advance to the Scripps National Spelling Bee the week of May 25th in Washington D.C. The Will County Regional Spelling Bee went nine rounds with Mescioglu spelling polyester to clinch the win. “The staff at Ira Jones is so proud of Alanur and what she has accomplished,” Ira Jones teacher Karen Domabyl said. “We wish her the best of luck as she competes at the Scripps National Spelling Bee.” Aux Sable Middle School eighthgrader Dhruv Ram won second place and Indian Trail Middle School sixthgrader Edward Goding took third place. Every year, the Will County Regional Office of Education holds a spelling bee, and the winner participates in the national spelling bee in Washington, D.C. The Scripps competition is one of the oldest in the country. This
year, Scripps is celebrating 100 years, so there will be many fun activities and events.
Students from all seven District 202 middle schools competed at the regional bee.
Other District 202 competitors included: Drauden Point: Kaylynn Wold (8th grade), Heritage Grove: Maya
Batiller (7th grade), John F. Kennedy: Khaliyah Olans (8th grade), Timber Ridge: Saanjh Kahlon (6th grade).