Jaques Bailly is a spell-ebrity. The former Denver Catholic school prodigy has been the face of the Scripps National Spelling Bee as a most patient pronouncer for twenty years, so beloved, young competitors recognize him with a "Howdy Dr. Bailly!" when they first step up to the microphone.
In the 10th round of competition, a seventh-grade student at Windham-Ashland-Jewett Central School won The Daily Star Regional Spelling Bee, held Saturday, Feb. 3 at SUNY Oneonta.