The Spelling Bee competitions in southeast Minnesota are sponsored and coordinated by the Southeast Service Cooperative and co-sponsored by McNeilus Steel, Inc. and KM Telecom.

Roshini Asirvatham, an 6^th grader from Rochester Public Schools was declared the champion after correctly spelling kielbasa.

Roshini advanced to the 83^nd annual Scripps National Spelling Bee on May 31-June 5, 2010. She won an all expenses paid trip (for herself and one adult) to Washington, DC (donated by Southeast Service Cooperative, McNeilus Steel, Inc. and KM Telecom). She also received a first place trophy, Websters Third New International Dictionary (provided by Scripps National Spelling Bee) and a $100 Series EE Savings Bond (donated by Jay Sugarman, Chairman and CEO of iStar Financial in honor of his father, Samuel Louis Sugarman), and a one-year subscription to Britannica Online Student Edition (donated by Encyclopedia Britannica).

Melissa Brown, a 8^th grader from Rochester Public Schools (John Adams Middle School), was the 2^nd place winner. She received a trophy, a Merriam-Websters Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition (courtesy of Merriam-Webster) and a one-year subscription to Britannica Online Student Edition (donated by Encyclopedia Britannica).

Jillian Hanesworth, a 7^th grader from Winona Public Schools, was the 3^rd place winner. She received a trophy, a one-year subscription to Britannica Online Student Edition (donated by Encyclopedia Britannica) and a $20 gift card from amazon.com.

Megan Klotz, a 8^th grader from Zumbrota-Mazeppa Public Schools, was the 4^th place winner. She received a medallion and a $20 gift card from amazon.com.

Sixty-four students from 39 schools throughout the region advanced from their respective District Spelling Bees to the Regional Spelling Bees. Twelve spellers (six from each Regional Spelling Bee on February 16, 2010) competed in the final Spelling Bee on Tuesday, March 2, at 9:00 a.m. at the Southeast Service Cooperative.

Other students participating in the Southeast Minnesota Spelling Bee Final were:

Lillian Beyer, 6^th grade, Winona Public Schools

Angela Dahl, 8^th grade, Kasson-Mantorville Public Schools

John Ferris, 7^th grade, Austin Area Catholic Schools

Emily Hagerott, 7^th grade, Caledonia Public Schools

Caroline Handley, 5^th grade, Rochester Catholic Schools

Laura Kennedy, 8^th grade, LaCrescent-Hokah Public Schools

Ted King, 8^th grade, Lyle Public Schools

Jacob Skold, 7^th grade, Wabasha-Kellogg Public Schools