Saint Mary’s team wins fifth spelling bee

For the fifth straight year, Saint Mary’s has emerged victorious in the Winona ORC Spelling Bee. Facing grueling competition, Transfinite Cardinals Dr. Paul Weiner, Dr. Jenny Shanahan, and Father Paul Nienaber, Ph.D., spelled their way to victory on March 18. The Transfinite Cardinals was one of 13 teams combining brain power to correctly spell words like “prestidigitation,” “hebephrenia,” “legerdemain,” “quenelle,” “elysium” and, in a sudden death playoff with River Hills Dental, Saint Mary’s correctly spelled “drosophilist” and “hamular” in the 11th and 12th rounds of the spelling bee.

The event raised over $3,000 for Winona ORC, which serves individuals with special needs obtain and maintain employment in the community.