Isaac Geremew, 12, of Mays Landing, N.J., claimed first place at the South Jersey Spelling Bee, earning his second trip to the nationals. (Natalia Sanchez Loayza / Billy Penn)

Spelling bee success is nothing new for the Geremew family.

Isaac Geremew, 12, took first place Saturday in the South Jersey regional bee co-hosted by WHYY and Billy Penn, at WHYY’s studio near Independence Mall. “I’m really excited to have won this competition. It’s really great to be here today,” Isaac said.   

The seventh grader at William Davies Middle School, in Mays Landing, will go on to compete at the Scripps National Spelling Bee finals, on an all-expenses-paid trip to the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, in Washington, D.C., during Memorial Day week. Saturday’s bee brought together the winners of school-level Bees in Camden, Burlington, Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem counties.

It’s not his — or his family’s — first time at the national competition. “We’ve made it for the past two years. Last year, my brother won the regionals,” Isaac said. His older brother, Leul Geremew, represented the region in 2024. He was in the audience today, rooting on his younger brother. 

A year earlier, in 2023, Isaac placed second in the regionals and attended nationals as both first- and second-place winners were eligible to go. So this will be his third time in D.C. for the competition. “It’s almost a family tradition,” he said.

Center-left to right, finalists Sonia Dragos, Sandhana Rajesh and Isaac Geremew. Below the stage, from left to right, pronouncer and host, journalist Tracey Matisak; and judges Chandra G. Pitts, Laura Rachel Felleman Fattal and Linda P. Shockley. (Natalia Sanchez Loayza/Billy Penn)

Even though he’s been there multiple times, he’s still excited about this accomplishment. “I’m looking forward to going to the Scripps National Spelling Bee with my family and enjoying the time there and doing as best as I can,” Isaac said.

His accomplishment came after a tight competition, which extended to 22 rounds. Sandhana Rajesh, from Fernwood Avenue Middle School (Egg Harbor Twp.), and Sonia Dragos, from Northfield Community Middle School (Northfield), also showcased impressive spelling abilities, placing second and third, respectively. In the final round, a contestant must spell at least two words correctly to win, according to the official Scripps rules. After spelling his last word correctly, Isaac smiled and thanked everyone as the crowd applauded.

Later his brother congratulated him. “I’m a formative influence,” Leul said.

The WHYY-Billy Penn Regional South Jersey Spelling Bee took place at WHYY headquarters, where family, friends, and teachers gathered to cheer on the students. (Natalia Sanchez Loayza/Billy Penn)