March 28, 2022

ISABELLA COWAN AND ZAIN MALIK TAKE TOP HONOURS IN WFCU CREDIT UNION SCRIPPS REGIONAL SPELLING BEE

WINDSOR, ON – After an intense and exciting afternoon competition, Isabella Cowan of St. Andre French Immersion Catholic Elementary School won the 2022 WFCU Credit Union Scripps Regional Spelling Bee, while Zain Malik of Academie Ste. Cecile International School was the runner-up. The winning word for Isabella was “edification.” Overall, the competition included 28 spellers from 14 schools across the Windsor-Essex County region.

Spellers competed at the St. Clair College Centre for the Arts on Sunday, March 27, 2022. Jim Crichton, former Anchor CTV News Windsor, served as the event host, while Craig Pearson, Managing Editor at Windsor Star, was the official pronouncer for the competition. The judges who tracked every word and verified spelling accuracy were: Beverly Becker, National Director, B2B Marketing, Postmedia; Lisa Williams, Co-host, The Morning Drive, AM800; Susan Stockwell Andrews, Vice President, External Affairs and Corporate Secretary, WFCU Credit Union; Jason Ilijanic, Director, Commercial Services, WFCU Credit Union; and Katie Chan, Analytics Specialist, WFCU Credit Union.

Now in its fourth year as sponsor, WFCU Credit Union is proud to present this opportunity for area students to display their language arts and literacy skills. “Providing youth in our community with opportunities to develop their skills and build self-confidence across a variety of platforms is a top priority for our organization,” said Eddie Francis, President and CEO, WFCU Credit Union. “This Regional Spelling Bee provides such an opportunity by giving students the chance to compete and be challenged in a fun and engaging way.”

By winning the first-place and runner-up spots respectively, Isabella and Zain will now advance to compete in the 2022 Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. The highly-anticipated event will be televised on ION, the Bee’s new broadcast home, on June 1 and 2. In addition to flight and accommodations during the event, both Isabella and Zain also win the following prizes:

• The Samuel Louis Sugarman Award is a 2022 United States Mint Proof Set provided by Jay Sugarman, chairman and CEO of iStar Financial, in honour of his father.
• The Britannica Online Premium is a one-year subscription for the premier online resource from Encyclopaedia Britannica.
• The Merriam-Webster Unabridged Online is a one-year subscription for the official word source for all levels of competition for the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
• $200 WFCU Credit Union Scholarship for the first-place winner, and $150 scholarship for the runner-up.

“Each student who competed here is to be applauded,” said Marty Gillis, Chair, WFCU Credit Union Board of Directors. “As these students took the stage, they displayed great commitment, courage,enthusiasm and, of course, exceptional skill. They are all champions and exemplify the spirit of the Bee.”

The WFCU Credit Union Scripps Regional Spelling Bee encourages students to set goals and dedicate time to study and prepare. Participation also provides an opportunity for students to gain valuable and practical experience in public speaking and performing under pressure.

Reaching millions of students across North America and other parts of the world via classroom materials it provides to enrolled schools, the Scripps National Spelling Bee is focused on helping students improve their spelling, increase their vocabularies, learn key language concepts and develop proper English usage – all skills that will benefit participants throughout their lives.

Media Contacts:

Eddie Francis
President & CEO WFCU Credit Union
519.974.3100
[email protected]

Beth Ann Prince
Manager, Member Engagement & Community Investment
519.974.3100
[email protected]