Cody Tran, winner of the Garden Grove Unified School District spelling bee for elementary school students, is flanked by finalists Brinna Do, left, and Joann Lai. Photo courtesy of Garden Grove Unified School District
GARDEN GROVE, Calif. ― Cody Tran of Barker Elementary School emerged as winner of the Garden Grove Unified School District’s 25th annual elementary school spelling bee. The 11-year-old correctly spelled the deciding word, septennial, to become the leading speller among the more than 10,500 fourth- through sixth-graders attending GGUSD schools.
He was a finalist in last year’s competition, placing among the top four contestants.
More than 100 parents, teachers, and principals witnessed the competition held Wednesday at the Edgar District Meeting Center. Cody, a sixth-grade Garden Grove resident, outspelled 45 other young students to accept a perpetual trophy for display at his school during the next year.
Along with Cody, the champion, two participants earned special honors as spelling contest finalists — Brianna Do of Faylane Elementary School and Joann Lai of Woodbury Elementary School.
Spelling bee contestants were required to pronounce the words, then print their responses on individual whiteboards. The spelling bee included such words as rhinoceros, licorice and phenomenon.
All district spelling bee entrants had won the spelling competitions at their local schools. For their efforts, all school champions received pins and certificates of participation presented by Board of Education President George West and Trustee Lan Quoc Nguyen. 
