On March 15, young students from the A. Fantis School of Saints Constantine and Helen Cathedral in Brooklyn, New York, completed their first Greek language spelling bee with winners taking home cash prizes

The competition was divided by classes as students from kindergarten through 8th grade were tested on vocabulary, spelling and orthographic skills.

Children from kindergarten through 4th grade competed with their peers while those from fifth to eighth grade competed in a larger competition yielding three winners.

The first winner received a $300 prize, the second $200 and the third $100, courtesy of sponsors Zoe Koutsoupaki, of Signature Bank, and Mega Contracting.

The competition aims to promote and encourage Greek language studies and philhellenism among students.

“Apart from the academic benefits, including the enrichment of vocabulary and improvement of spelling and written speech, our students had the opportunity to interact directly with Greek language and culture through friendly competition,” A. Fantis Hellenic Studies Department Chair Stella Vasileiadou said.

“We are proud of the effort they made and their participation during which they cheered each other on,” Vasilieadou said.

The winners are as follows:

First place: Maria Sotiriadis (from fifth grade)

Second place: Alexander Cantwell (from sixth grade)

Third place: Olivia Arnaud (from seventh grade)

Kindergarten: Hudson Lopez

First grade: Theodoros Passias

Second grade: Patrick Hunt

Third grade: Alexander Mimitos-Bychkov & Elias Sotiriadis

Fourth grade: Georgios Passias