Virgin Gorda resident Tanieka Gludd has been crowned the champion of the 2024 Adult Spelling Bee competition, following a thrilling tiebreaker on Saturday night.
The event, held at the Eileene L. Parsons Auditorium at the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC), saw Gludd outspell six other contestants to secure the top spot.
The competition culminated in a tense showdown between Gludd and Stephanie Russ Penn, who took second place. The tiebreaker, which kept the audience on the edge of their seats, ended with Gludd emerging victorious, marking the third consecutive year that a Virgin Gorda resident has won the competition.
As part of the event’s charitable tradition, Gludd was given the opportunity to randomly select a school to receive a $2,500 donation. The Elmore Stoutt High School was selected as the beneficiary of the prize.
In addition to her victory, Gludd walked away with an impressive array of prizes, including $1,800, a round-trip ticket to Puerto Rico for two, a weekend stay at a villa, and a 45-minute photo session.
Second-place winner Russ Penn received $1,000, a half-day sail, a 50-inch television, and a spa gift certificate, while third-place contestant Kelberlin George took home $500, a zipline tour for four, a round-trip ticket to Anegada from Fly BVI, and a pedicure.
