Chesapeake student to take part in national bee in May

CHESAPEAKE — For the next two months, Joseph Keffer will be studying hard.

The Chesapeake Middle School fifth grader is headed to the nation’s capital, where he will take part in the 100th annual Scripps National Spelling Bee from May 27-29.

Keffer qualified for the national bee when he won the southeast Ohio district bee on March 1, after successfully spelling the word “leviathan.”

Keffer, 10, said when he was given the winning word, he knew how to spell it. He said he had been pretty confident going into that event, which took place at Ohio University in Athens, though he was not sure just how well he would do.

“My expectation was that I would get close, but I didn’t expect that I would win,” he said.

And Keffer’s win marked the first time Lawrence County has swept the top two places in the regional bee, which had 13 competitors.

Coming in second place was Meredith Dunlap, of Fairland Middle School, who was also runner up to Keffer at the county bee in December 2024.

Dunlap was last year’s county winner and, like Keffer, also won at regional and went on to compete in Washington, D.C.

This was the first time that Lawrence County has had national spellers for two consecutive years.

Prior to Dunlap and Keffer, the last student from the county to do so was Felicity Jenkins, of Symmes Valley, who went to the national bee in 2010.

And, not only was the double feat a win for the county, but also for Redemption Church, of Huntington, West Virginia, where both Keffer and Dunlap attend.

Keffer is the son of Laura and Andrew Keffer, of Chesapeake, and one of three siblings.

When he is not spelling, he said he likes to play video games and read.

He said this is his second year taking part in spelling bees.

Last year, he made to the district bee for Chesapeake.

For the national bee, his family is being provided with a hotel room for the week by Ohio University.

Keffer said it will be his first time in Washington, D.C.

“I’m kind of excited,” he said. “And my sister is really excited to go to D.C.”

In preparation for the national bee, he said he will be continuing his previous studying routine, using the Word Club app, put out by Scripps National, as well as using flash cards. 

His mother said Dunlap is also bringing him books as encouragement.

“We know them well,” she said of their family. “And her dad is our pediatrician. They’re excited for him.”

Glenn Dillon, Keffer’s principal, said his win is “a great thing for the district and the county.

“We’re excited for him and proud of him,” Dillon said. “He’s a hard worker and self motivated. He’s a great kid from a great family.”

Gretta Taylor, student service coordinator for the Lawrence County ESC, which organizes the county bee, said, “Joseph could truly make anyone smile.”

She recalled how enthused he was during the county bee, and said he also took time, prior to the event, to introduce himself to the other spellers and worked to calm those who were nervous.

“He told them, ‘it will be OK’ and that they would do great,” she said. “He’s one of a kind. We knew he would go far in the spelling bee and represent Lawrence County well.”