Two seventh-grade students earned the top trophies in the 26th annual spelling bee in Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District on Dec. 21. 

Jasmine Lim, a student at Nicollet Junior High School, took first place in round 26 with the word "jeopardy." Her older sister, Savannah, was a previous district winner. Lim will go on to a metro area regional competition if one is scheduled.

Suraj Shah, who attends Metcalf Junior High School, was the runner-up for the second year in a row.

Superintendent Randy Clegg, serving as master of ceremonies, said he was impressed with the poise and confidence displayed by students. “They were on stage, under the spotlights, in front of a large crowd, spelling difficult words for almost three hours,” he said. “They were all very impressive.” Spelling champs: Superintendent Randy
Clegg (center) poses with Jasmine Lim, (left)
who won first place and Suraj Shah, who won
second place at the District 191 spelling bee.

Judges were Jeffrey Leach, associate principal at Nicollet Junior High School, and Tia Clasen, gifted and talented coordinator at Harriet Bishop Elementary School.

This year's district-wide spelling bee was coordinated by Lindsay Hudak, a 2005 Burnsville High School graduate.

Over 3,000 District 191 students in fifth through eighth grade were involved in spelling activities this year that began with a first-round written test. Thirty-one qualified to participate in the district bee.