History of the homeschool bee

(Updated 12/5/2015)

This year marked the 22nd annual homeschool bee as we select a speller to represent homeschoolers in the February 2016 Times Union bee. We are grateful to Calvary Church for hosting the bee in all these years. We are grateful to Mrs. Ruth Staver, who was our pronouncer and word list manager for many years.

We are also grateful to the pastors, custodians, and church elders who have assisted by getting to the church early to turn on the heat for us, set up the sound system, arranged furniture, and many other details that have helped to create excellent and memorable bee experiences for our spellers. We are also grateful to the many individuals who have volunteered as judges.

Here is the list of our past homeschool winners

1994-95 Heather Grambling
1995-96 Joshua Nare
1996-97 Sarah Newell
1997-98 Alison Miller
1998-99 Stephanie Johnson
1999-2000 Alison Miller
2000-01 Catherine Miller
2001-02 Catherine Miller
2002-03 Susannah Krewson
2003-04 Christiana Johnson
2004-05 Ryan Mason
2005-06 Leah Trouwborst
2006-07 Lynn Schonberg
2007-08 Mandy Ketttell
2008-09 Preston Law
2009-10- Jien Ogawa
2010-11 Paul Capuano
2011-12 Zarin Tuten
2012-13 Adam Roy
2013-2014 Elizabeth Oxaal*
2014-2015 David Barkevich*
2015-2016 Asher Andrews*

Augustine Academy winners
2013-2014 Christopher Oxaal*
2014-2015 Elizabeth Oxaal*
2015-2016 Ruth Zhang*

(*Beginning with our 2013-14 bee, we combined forces with Augustine Academy spellers.  The highest placing homeschool speller in our bee will represent homeschoolers at the Times Union bee in Proctors.  The highest placing Augustine Academy speller will represent Augustine Academy at the Times Union bee in Proctors.)

Click here to return to Frequently Asked Questions list.