Irvine : County Plans to Honor Letter-Perfect Student
Winston Chang, a 10-year-old Irvine sixth grader, has spelled his way to S-U-C-C-E-S-S.
The East Shore Elementary School student beat 58 contestants from 30 counties last week to win the California Spelling Bee championship for elementary school students, held in Santa Rosa.
“We’re thrilled and excited, and now the county department is going to honor him,” said Jane Van Treese, spokeswoman for the Orange County Department of Education. She said the county board of education will hold an awards ceremony in honor of Chang at 9:30 a.m. Thursday at the board’s office in Costa Mesa.
Chang, who has been the Orange County Spelling Bee champ for the last three years, came in second in the statewide competition in 1983 and was third in the state in 1984. “This year he became the champion,” said Van Treese. “He is really incredible.”
Chang won the state championship after correctly spelling “trapezoid.” His state championship brought him a trophy and a $500 bond, said Van Treese.
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