Submitted Photo The top four finishers in the State Spelling Bee, held March 18 at the Bismarck Civic Center, are, from left, Luna Gasevic, Cass County, first place; Merryn Johnson, Cass County, second place; Kale Tebelius, Stutsman County, third place; and Chilaka Ugobi, Ward County, fourth place.

Chilaka Ugobi, a sixth grader at Our Redeemer’s Christian School in Minot, took fourth place at the 2024 North Dakota State Spelling Bee. He is the son of David and Helen Ugobi. He received a trophy, bronze medal, a gift card and North Dakota Spelling Bee engraved YETI.

Luna Gasevic was declared champion for the third consecutive year. Luna is an eighth grader at Ben Franklin Middle School in Fargo and will travel to Washington, D.C., to compete at the Scripps National Spelling Bee from May 26-31.

Merryn Johnson finished as runner-up. She is an eighth grader at Discovery Middle School in Fargo. Kale Tebelius, an eighth grader from Hillcrest SDA Elementary School in Stutsman County, took third place.