After a second place finish in 2018, seventh-grade Latta Middle School student, Jacob Mijalli, won the 2019 Pee Dee Regional Spelling Bee by correctly spelling “magnanimous” on February 4th.

The 2019 Pee Dee Regional Spelling Bee was held in the Richard N. Chapman Auditorium inside of the Robert E. McNair Science Building at Francis Marion University.
Mrs. Debra Morris, LMS Principal said, “I am so proud of Jacob and his accomplishment. Last year after placing second, he said that he would be the regional winner this year, and he did just that. Everyone is looking forward to cheering him on at the National Bee in Washington. I am confident that he will represent Latta Middle School well.”
To be eligible for the regional bee, students must be under the age of 16, must be in grades 5-8 and had to have won the spelling championship of their respective schools.
Mijalli completed against more than 50 spellers from the fifth through eighth grade from 16 school districts in the Pee Dee.
Mrs. Misty Bethea, 6th grade ELA teacher and LMS Spelling Bee Coordinator said, “After earning first runner-up in the Pee Dee Regional Spelling Bee in 2018, Jacob persevered to achieve overall winner status this year! I’m so proud of him and his accomplishment! It has been an honor for me to be able to witness him excel!”
Mijalli will represent the Pee Dee Region at the national competition on May 27-30 in Washington, D.C. in the 92nd Scripps National Spelling Bee.
The first day of the national competition will feature a preliminary test and on-stage spelling will begin on May 28th. The finals are scheduled for Thursday evening, May 30th and are usually televised.