MEDIA RELEASE

PBS Hawaii will air a live broadcast of the 2013 Hawaii State Spelling Bee beginning at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 23.

The program will also be available via live streaming on www.PBHawaii.org

Fourteen student finalists representing Grades 5-8 will vie for the championship:

1. Anatevka Ah Loy of Waimea Middle Public Charter School, Grade 8

2. Sydney Brady of Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School, Grade 8

3. Hayley Dietrich of Le Jardin Academy, Grade 8

4. Laney Flanagan of Lokelani Intermediate School, Grade 7

5. Kealia Haitsuka of Hawaii Preparatory Academy, Grade 6

6. Susan Hasegawa of Iolani School, Grade 7

7. Katherine Hui of Iolani School, Grade 7

8. Michael Linder of Aliamanu Middle School, Grade 7

9. Maya McGarry of St. Ann’s Model School, Grade 7

10. Ashley Membrere of Makakilo Elementary School, Grade 5

11. Zoe Sano of Highlands Intermediate School, Grade 8

12. Akira Takabayashi of Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School, Grade 8

13. Amalie Yach of Holy Family Catholic Academy, Grade 7

14. Nicklaus Yoo of Lokelani Intermediate School, Grade 7

The finalists’ families, friends and sponsors will watch the live broadcast inside a hospitality tent set up at the station’s parking lot.

Spelling bee host and pronouncer PBS Hawaii President and CEO Leslie Wilcox will call upon KHON2-TV anchor Justin Cruz for spectator commentary from the tent.

The new champion will represent Hawaii at the 2013 Scripps National Spelling Bee to be held May 29 – 31 near Washington DC.

Hawaii’s only public television station, PBS Hawaii, advances learning and discovery through storytelling that profoundly touches people’s lives.

— Find out more:
www.PBSHawaii.org