Bee Results

2014 Spelling Bee

On April 9th, 40 teams came together for the 23rd annual NEF Spelling Bee. Teams included middle and high school students, teachers, parents and local business people, all gathering to test their spelling knowledge. Chyten Test Prep came away as the victors, the most difficult word: “triskaidekaphobia”, which means fear of the number 13. It was a fun-filled evening, with hundreds of spectators cheering on the spellers. As co-chair Denise Bruno said, “It’s a fun community event! It brings so many community members together.”

Here are links to articles that appeared in the local papers:

Needham Times article
Needham Times Photo Gallery

2013 Spelling Bee

The Needham Board of Selectmen was the winning team of the 22nd annual NEF Spelling Bee. The team was made up of John Bulian, Dan Matthews, and Lindsey Kiser. The winning word this year was “neossology,” which means the study of young birds.

The 2013 NEF Spelling Bee was a success! Our thanks to the many donors and participants of our annual fundraising event.

2012 Spelling Bee

At Needham High School on April 4, 2012, the winning team, The Wordniks, made up of Lindsey Kiser, Liza Kobzik, and Lester Kobzik, beat the Needham Finance Committee in the final round with the Russian word “samizdat,” which means disseminating censored materials. The word was commonly used in former Soviet bloc countries to describe a dissident act against the government.

Read more in the Needham Times coverage.

2011 Spelling Bee

The champion team, the Wordniks, Les Kobzik, Christine Bezreh, and Lindsey Kiser celebrate victory at the 20th Annual Needham Education Foundation Spelling Bee Fundraiser, held at Newman Elementary School, April 7, 2011 with the word: f-l-a-g-i-t-i-o-u-s-l-y.

Read more in the coverage by The Needham Times.

2010 Spelling Bee

The “Needham High Hopes”, comprised of Needham High School PTC members Jane Dornbusch, Mike Boyd and Deena Siegel. The winning word was was “berylloid,” meaning a solid consisting of a double twelve-sided pyramid. The NHS Anime Club and the UU Gurus tied for second place.

See coverage of the Bee on the Needham Channel.

2009 Spelling Bee

2009’s “Library Bookies” – Lindsay Kiser, Gay Ellen Dennet, and Lois Sockol take the trophy for the 2nd year in a row!

Congratulations to all contestants and THANK YOU to all our sponsors!

See coverage of the Bee on the Needham Channel.

2008 Spelling Bee

2008 NEF Spelling Bee Champions are the “Library Bookies”: Rose Doherty, Gay Ellen Dennet, and Lindsay Kiser.

2007 Spelling Bee

2007 NEF Spelling Bee Champions are the “Needham High Hopes”: Gabe Nardi, Lindsay Kiser, and Marianne Prokesch.

2006 Spelling Bee

2006 NEF Spelling Bee Champions are the “The Pollard Swarm”: Margaret Mallory, Ken Lundberg and Lindsay Kiser.

2005 Spelling Bee

2005 NEF Spelling Bee Champions are the “Pollard Parents!”

Past Bee Results