The inaugural Catholic Youth Organization Spelling Bee for students in grades 3,4 and 5 was held at SS Peter & Paul Parish Hall in Lehighton on Sunday afternoon.

Six third grade students, four fourth grade students and two fifth grade students participated. Students from Lehighton, the Panther Valley, Jim Thorpe and other local areas took part in the spelling bee.

Third grade winners were: First place, Cody Morris, St Joseph’s Church, Jim Thorpe, St. Jerome Regional School, Hometown; second place, Vienna Scarpati, Sacred Heart Church, Palmerton, Lehighton Elementary School; third place, Paislee Sevinsky, St. Theresa of Calcutta Church, Mahanoy City, St. Jerome Regional School; fourth place, Charlotte Harvey, St. Jerome Regional School; fifth place, Kiera Kelly, St. Theresa of Calcutta Church, Mahanoy City, St. Jerome Regional School; and fifth place, Jace Stephens, St. Joseph of the Panther Valley Church, St. Jerome Regional School.

Fourth grade winners were: first place, Olivia Wooding, Holy Rosary Church, St. Jerome Regional School, second place, Levi Kresge, St. Joseph of the Panther Valley Church, St. Jerome Regional School; third place, Sofia Firkal, St. Richard Church, Barnesville, St. Jerome Regional School.

Fifth grade winners: first place, Jack Scarpati, Sacred Heart Church, Palmerton, Lehighton Elementary School; second place, Caden Engleman, St. Jerome Regional School.

Phil Liszka, the commissioner for the District 5 CYO program for the Diocese of Allentown, thanked the Rev. Christopher Zelonis, pastor of SS Peter & Paul, for his prayer at the bee and handing out the medals to the first, second and third place winners. He also thanked JoAnn McGuire for handling the kitchen duties, and Rosanne Samuels-Liszka for registration. Bill Keer read the words for the third grade bee, while Alice Miller read for the fourth grade and Liszka for the fifth grade.

“Some of the parents have said that we all do a good job at our parish, and they feel very welcome every time we have an event for our children,” Liszka said. “It was a wonderful afternoon, and we all had fun and enjoyed the day.”

Liszka also thanked Tom Zimmerman for the donation of the iced tea, and the District 5 CYO for the pizza, candy, cookies and other snacks.