Eighth grader becomes two-time champion of Miami Herald Spelling Bee for Broward
When the word “californium” echoed through the Charles F. Dodge auditorium Wednesday morning, 14-year-old Lancaster Gramer didn’t hesitate.
The eighth grader from Franklin Academy in Cooper City spelled the element correctly to clinch the title at the 86th Miami Herald Spelling Bee for Broward County after eight intense rounds.
The competition was divided into two portions: the first for Broward and the second for Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties.
The Feb. 25 victory marks Lancaster’s second bee championship and his fourth time competing. He previously won the Broward competition in 2023 as a fifth grader to the winning word, “succès fou.”
“Because it was my last year, and I wanted to at least win it one more time,” he told the Miami Herald after his victory. “It feels great — another opportunity to go to the nationals.”
This year’s bee featured 27 elementary and middle school spellers from across Broward County. The final word came from the off-list, meaning it was not included on the official study guide the spellers had.
The competition moved swiftly.
Four spellers were eliminated in the opening round, with “hoagies” becoming the first misspelled word of the day. Contestants dropped one by one until only three remained by the eighth round.
Lancaster, competing in his final year of eligibility, remained calm and composed throughout the bee.
He had misspelled just one word, “apostasy,” in the sixth round. Fellow finalists Khadijah Iqbal of Pembroke Pines Charter Elementary School – Central and Reya Rakesh of Pompano Beach Middle School also stumbled in that round.
Khadijah earned second, while Reya finished third.
Trophy in hand, Lancaster will advance to the Scripps National Spelling Bee competition in Washington, D.C. He and three guests will travel to the competition, courtesy of LATAM and Delta airlines.
