The Shasta Office of Education recently announced the winners of the 2025 Shasta County Spelling Bees. In the Elementary School category, Noowra Tazmeen, a fourth grader from Manzanita Elementary, and Norah Orellana, a sixth grader from Grant Elementary, emerged as champions. Tazmeen secured her win by correctly spelling “restitution,” while Orellana spelled “redolence.” The event saw participation from 46 students across fourth to sixth grades and was held at Sequoia Middle School.
In the Middle School category, Cooper Williams, an eighth grader from Redding School of the Arts, and Tristan Friesen, an eighth grader from Shasta View Academy, took the top spots. Williams won with the word “heuristic,” and Friesen triumphed with “duello.” This event featured 22 students from seventh and eighth grades, also held at Sequoia Middle School. Notably, Friesen is the returning state spelling bee champion.
Overall, the spelling bees involved 68 students from 29 schools, who collectively spelled 226 words. Both the elementary and middle school champions will advance to the state competition in April.
