The Rhode Island State Spelling Bee took place at Lincoln Middle School on Saturday, hosting 20 spellers from grades 4-8 across the state in-person for the first time since the pandemic began. Kim Kalunian, a news anchor, was the official pronouncer. Penelope Sargeant, an 8th grader from St. Margaret School in East Providence, won the competition by correctly spelling “telegnosis” and “interpellate” in the final rounds. Sargeant will represent Rhode Island at the upcoming Scripps National Spelling Bee this spring.