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Board recognizes spelling‑bee champions, student artist and custodians earning state certification
Summary
At the April 1 meeting the board honored three Scripps Regional spelling‑bee winners headed to the national bee, the Spanish spelling‑bee champion, a middle‑school student whose artwork will hang at the Capitol, and custodial staff who completed Florida School Plant Management Association certification.
The Orange County School Board used part of its April 1 meeting to recognize students and staff achievements across the district.
The district named three students who won the Scripps regional spelling bee and will represent Orange County at the national Scripps competition: Diego Gallegos (Lakemont Elementary), Louis Atavus (Discovery Middle) and Aiden Westover (Odyssey Middle). Nancy Golden of Curriculum and Instruction said each of the three will receive $1,000 from the district foundation to help cover travel and participation costs.
Liesel Nunnis, director for multilingual services, introduced the district’s Spanish spelling‑bee champion, Nadiele Garcia Alvarez of Conway Middle School. Nunnis said more than 80 students registered for the contest at Timber Creek High School and that the final round reached the word “erudite.”
The board also recognized Hunter’s Creek Middle School eighth grader Maya Beltran for artwork selected to be displayed at the Florida Capitol for the remainder of the legislative session. The student’s state representative and aide were present for the recognition and a photograph with the board.
Carlos Mathews, Director of Custodial Services, presented certificates to custodial staff who completed Florida School Plant Management Association (FSPMA) certification. Mathews said the FSPMA program requires seven weeks of classroom instruction — three days per week for three hours per day, totaling 63 hours — and praised staff who completed the course while balancing second‑shift work and other obligations. The board noted that 84 custodians earned the state certification across classes and commended the staff for the professional development.
Board members thanked the students, parents and custodial staff. Member Felder and others emphasized custodians’ daily contributions to school operations and student well‑being.
