Ophelia Lorenz, an 8th grader at St. Agnes School, placed first in the 26th annual Ford Motor Company Derby Festival Spelling Bee on March 16 at the Kentucky Center for the Arts. Lorenz, who represented the Archdiocese of Louisville, was one of 57 students from 54 counties who competed in the bee.
Lorenz correctly spelled “chihuahua” in the final round to win the championship.
Lorenz received the Fillies Scholarship Fund, a $10,000 savings bond from the Kentucky Derby Festival Foundation; a Britannica online gift certificate, a copy of “Valerie’s Spelling Bee Supplement” and a Scrabble board game. She will have the opportunity to ride the Winner’s Float in the Pegasus Parade on May 2.
