The annual spelling bee has been renamed as the Jonathan Levine Middle School Spelling Bee to honor the late editor of the Pittsfield Gazette. At the event at the Berkshire Athenaeum Friday, Levine's brother, David Levine, said that Jonathan always made an effort to focus on covering the academic and arts achievements of local students, rather than athletics, and that “he would be so proud to have his name associated with [the spelling bee]. And as for his family,” Levine continued, “we’re thrilled to see his legacy continue in this way.”
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Reid Middle School seventh grader Abraham Vengalil, 12, is congratulated by David Levine, left, Greg Fournier, center left, and Pittsfield Public Schools Superintendent Joseph Curtis, right, after winning the Jonathan Levine Middle School Spelling Bee at the Berkshire Athenaeum in Pittsfield on Friday. Vengalil will continue on to the regional spelling bee, where he will compete against Pittsfield’s runner-up from Herberg Middle School, Daniel Lin.
Herberg Middle School seventh grader Daniel Lin thinks about how to spell the word given to him in the final round, Montmorency.
Reid Middle School seventh grader Abraham Vengalil, 12, wins the day with the word, Bloomsbury, during the Jonathan Levine Middle School Spelling Bee at the Berkshire Athenaeum in Pittsfield. Vengalil will continue on to the regional spelling bee where he will compete against Pittsfield’s runner-up from Herberg, Daniel Lin.
Students from Reid and Herberg middle schools compete in the annual spelling bee at the Berkshire Athenaeum in Pittsfield that will send one student from each school to the regional competition. This year, the spelling bee was renamed as the Jonathan Levine Middle School Spelling Bee, in honor of the late editor of the Pittsfield Gazette.
Eighth grader Abby Henriott spells a word for the judges in the annual middle school spelling bee at the Berkshire Athenaeum in Pittsfield. This year, the spelling bee was renamed as the Jonathan Levine Middle School Spelling Bee, in honor of the late editor of the Pittsfield Gazette.
Berkshire Athenaeum Director Alex Reczkowski serves as the official pronouncer for the annual middle school spelling bee at the Berkshire Athenaeum in Pittsfield on Friday. This year, the spelling bee was renamed as the Jonathan Levine Middle School Spelling Bee, in honor of the late editor of the Pittsfield Gazette.
Reid Middle School seventh grader Abraham Vengalil, 12, is congratulated by David Levine, left, English teacher Greg Fournier, center, and schools Superintendent Joseph Curtis, right, after winning the Jonathan Levine Middle School Spelling Bee at the Berkshire Athenaeum in Pittsfield. Vengalil will continue on to the regional spelling bee where he will compete against Pittsfield’s runner-up from Herberg, Daniel Lin.
David Levine watches the annual middle school spelling bee from the audience at the Berkshire Athenaeum in Pittsfield. This year, the spelling bee was renamed as the Jonathan Levine Middle School Spelling Bee to honor David’s brother, the late editor of the Pittsfield Gazette. Levine said that his brother always made an effort to focus on covering the academic and arts achievements of local students, rather than athletics, and that “he would be so proud to have his name associated with [the spelling bee]. And as for his family,” Levine continued, “we’re thrilled to see his legacy continue in this way.”
Students from Reid and Herberg middle schools compete in the annual spelling bee at the Berkshire Athenaeum in Pittsfield that will send one student from each school to the regional competition. This year, the spelling bee was renamed as the Jonathan Levine Middle School Spelling Bee, in honor of the late editor of the Pittsfield Gazette.
Stephanie Zollshan
Photojournalist
Stephanie Zollshan has been a photojournalist for The Berkshire Eagle since 2011. She is a Boston University graduate whose work has been featured in publications around the world. Stephanie can be reached at szollshan@berkshireeagle.com.
