The annual WFCU Scripps Regional Spelling Bee champion has been awarded a scholarship by the Windsor Family Credit Union after COVID-19 caused the cancellation of her trip to Washington, D.C.
Giovanna Patcas was presented a cheque for $2,500 from the WFCU via a video conference Friday. Representatives from the WFCU, the spelling bee and local media tuned in to mark the occasion.
The Grade 8 student at L.A. Desmarais Catholic Elementary School won the regional spelling bee on March 8 — winning 20 rounds and beating 33 other spellers from 18 schools at downtown Windsor's Chrysler Theatre.
She booked her ticket to the national competition in the U.S., but new measures put in place to contain the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled the Scripps Spelling Bee for the first time since WWII.
Patcas was the runner up locally in 2019 and looked forward to attending the national competition for the first time in 2020. She'll be heading into Grade 9 in 2021, so she won't get another shot as the bee is only open to Grade 4 through 8 students.
In a release, the WFCU's Beth Ann Prince says the credit union has paid out $300,000 in local scholarships over the years to support students and Patcas is a deserving recipient.
The Scripps National Spelling Bee was set to begin over the final week of May.