Lafayette Meadows celebrates Spell Bowl and Math Bowl successes with team highlights

The spotlight shone brightly on academic achievements at the Southwest Allen County Schools Board Meeting on May 6, 2025, as students from Lafayette Meadows Elementary showcased their impressive extracurricular activities.

The evening kicked off with a celebration of the school's inaugural Spell Bowl team, led by coaches Lisonbee Knappenberger and Andrea Harmeyer. Team members Tatum Moss and Hazel Miller shared their journey, which included mastering a daunting list of over 750 words. Despite being the only school in their division, the team secured a first-place ribbon, highlighting their teamwork and dedication. "My favorite part of Spell Bowl was meeting new people and working together as a team," Moss said, emphasizing the camaraderie built during practices.

Next, the focus shifted to the Math Bowl, where coaches Stephanie Frazier and Andy Landrigan introduced team members Grace Pasquale and Caleb Kendall. This year marked Lafayette Meadows' first participation in the Purdue University Indiana Academic Math competition. The students tackled advanced concepts, including Fibonacci sequences and Pythagorean theory, all while meeting before school for practice. "My favorite part about the Math Bowl was the great new experiences I got to do and the new people I got to meet," Kendall noted.

The evening concluded with a presentation from the science fair team, represented by fifth graders Andrew Funk and Eli Shear. Their project, which tested various household materials for removing Sharpie from painted drywall, earned them a spot at the regional competition at Purdue University, where they proudly secured second place. "It's important for kids to be involved in the science field in the future because you can learn a lot of knowledge," Funk stated, underscoring the value of scientific inquiry.

The meeting not only celebrated student achievements but also highlighted the essential role of teachers and community support in fostering academic excellence. As Lafayette Meadows continues to encourage participation in these enriching activities, the future looks bright for its students.