Audubon School seventh-grader Aaron Chang advances to National Spelling Bee

After consecutive years of second-place finishes, seventh-grader Aaron Chang finally got to take home the big trophy.

And even though he’d twice missed out on being named the winner, Aaron, from Audubon School, didn’t have much to say after coming out on top during Thursday’s Chicago Public Schools’ annual Citywide Spelling Bee Championship.

“It feels pretty amazing,” he said.

Coming into another year of the competition at Lindblom Math and Science Academy, Aaron said he “felt pretty confident.” But he also said that after getting this year’s list of words, he “was kind of nervous.”

But those nerves didn’t stop him from acing all the words thrown at him throughout the Spelling Bee.

After the other finalist, eighth-grader Maya Joshi from South Loop Elementary, tripped up over the spelling of “exaggerate,” Aaron correctly spelled “pembroke” — in addition to “privet” beforehand — to finally land the top honor.

When asked what the hardest word to spell was, however, Aaron admitted “it wasn’t the last two.” “Acculturation” a few rounds earlier was the one that early stumped him.

Maya’s twin sister, Riya, won the competition both of the past two years.

This year’s contest included competitors ranging from 2nd to 8th grade. Aaron and Maya made the final three along with South Loop Elementary fourth-grader Sinan Abuzayd.

Sinan had a challenging day as the youngest of the final five spellers — but he wanted it to be even harder.

Though he flew through round after round of words like “backstein” and “perestroika,” while walking out the room for a break mid-competition, he told his dad he wished he could spell other kids’ words too.

“I wanted to spell glockenspiel,” Sinan said.

After his first time competing in the spelling bee, Sinan already had his sights on returning in 2020.

That’s because — as Sinan says — the event’s “a chance to get really competitive, win awards, and it’s also really fun too.”

Aaron’s mom, Susanna Chang, said it was “incredible” to finally see her son take home the title after two years of second-place finishes.

She added she can’t wait for Aaron to travel to Washington, D.C., in May for the Scripps National Spelling Bee and have the chance to be around other kids as passionate about words as he is.

“He tried so hard and so long,” she said. “We just kind of left the results in God’s hands and would’ve been happy either way, but it’s really exciting that he’s going to go.”

The winner of the national competition gets a $40,000 cash prize from Scripps and a $2,500 U.S. savings bond from Merriam-Webster.

But Aaron said that’s not what he’s looking forward to most about their trip to D.C. in two months.

“I’m excited mostly about the fact that I’m just actually going and get to meet all the other people there,” he said.

Grid View

• Aaron Chang from Audubon Elementary School competes in annual Citywide Spelling Bee Championship at the Lindblom Math and Science Academy on March 14, 2019. The winner will earn the opportunity to represent Chicago Public Schools at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., where they will compete against the best spellers from across the nation for the title of 2019 national Spelling Bee Champion and an opportunity to win a $40,000 prize. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
• Seventh-grader Aaron Chang(center) from the Audubon Elementary School headed to hug his parents Susanna and Michael Chang after winning annual Citywide Spelling Bee Championship at the Lindblom Math and Science Academy on March 14, 2019. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
• Aaron Chang (left) from the Audubon Elementary School and Maya Joshi(center) from the Young Magnet High School with Paschel Bennett, Academic Competitions Coordinator, during award ceremony of the annual Citywide Spelling Bee Championship at the Lindblom Math and Science Academy on March 14, 2019. Aaron Chang, winner of the contest, will represent Chicago Public Schools at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., where he will compete against the best spellers from across the nation for the title of 2019 national Spelling Bee Champion and an opportunity to win a $40,000 prize. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
• Paschel Bennett (right), Academic Competitions Coordinator, presents the award to Aaron Chang from the Audubon Elementary School, winner of the annual Citywide Spelling Bee Championship at the Lindblom Math and Science Academy on March 14, 2019. Aaron Chang, winner of the contest, will represent Chicago Public Schools at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., where he will compete against the best spellers from across the nation for the title of 2019 national Spelling Bee Champion and an opportunity to win a $40,000 prize. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
• Aaron Chang (left) from the Audubon Elementary School and Maya Joshi from the Young Magnet High School on the stage during award ceremony of the annual Citywide Spelling Bee Championship at the Lindblom Math and Science Academy on March 14, 2019. Aaron Chang, winner of the contest, will represent Chicago Public Schools at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., where he will compete against the best spellers from across the nation for the title of 2019 national Spelling Bee Champion and an opportunity to win a $40,000 prize. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
• Seventh-grader Aaron Chang (center) from the Audubon Elementary School with his parents Susanna and Michael Chang after award ceremony where he received trophy for winning annual Citywide Spelling Bee Championship at the Lindblom Math and Science Academy on March 14, 2019. He will represent Chicago Public Schools at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., where he will compete against the best spellers from across the nation for the title of 2019 national Spelling Bee Champion and an opportunity to win a $40,000 prize. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
• Seventh-grader Aaron Chang from the Audubon Elementary School with his trophy after winning annual Citywide Spelling Bee Championship at the Lindblom Math and Science Academy on March 14, 2019. He will represent Chicago Public Schools at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., where he will compete against the best spellers from across the nation for the title of 2019 national Spelling Bee Champion and an opportunity to win a $40,000 prize. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
• Seventh-grader Aaron Chang from the Audubon Elementary School with his trophy after winning annual Citywide Spelling Bee Championship at the Lindblom Math and Science Academy on March 14, 2019. He will represent Chicago Public Schools at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., where he will compete against the best spellers from across the nation for the title of 2019 national Spelling Bee Champion and an opportunity to win a $40,000 prize. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
• Henry Alesia from the Edgebrook Elementary School competes in annual Citywide Spelling Bee Championship at the Lindblom Math and Science Academy on March 14, 2019. The winner will earn the opportunity to represent Chicago Public Schools at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., where they will compete against the best spellers from across the nation for the title of 2019 national Spelling Bee Champion and an opportunity to win a $40,000 prize. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
• Some of the Chicago Public Schools’ best spellers from across the city compete in annual Citywide Spelling Bee Championship at the Lindblom Math and Science Academy on March 14, 2019. The winner will earn the opportunity to represent Chicago Public Schools at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., where they will compete against the best spellers from across the nation for the title of 2019 national Spelling Bee Champion and an opportunity to win a $40,000 prize. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
• Maya Joshi from the Young Magnet High School adjusts microphone during one of the final rounds of the annual Citywide Spelling Bee Championship at the Lindblom Math and Science Academy on March 14, 2019. The winner will earn the opportunity to represent Chicago Public Schools at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., where they will compete against the best spellers from across the nation for the title of 2019 national Spelling Bee Champion and an opportunity to win a $40,000 prize. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
• Some of the Chicago Public Schools’ best spellers from across the city compete in annual Citywide Spelling Bee Championship at the Lindblom Math and Science Academy on March 14, 2019. The winner will earn the opportunity to represent Chicago Public Schools at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., where they will compete against the best spellers from across the nation for the title of 2019 national Spelling Bee Champion and an opportunity to win a $40,000 prize. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
• Seventh-grader Aaron Chang (left) from the Audubon Elementary School and Maya Joshi from the Young Magnet High School during one of the final rounds of the annual Citywide Spelling Bee Championship at the Lindblom Math and Science Academy on March 14, 2019. The winner will earn the opportunity to represent Chicago Public Schools at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., where they will compete against the best spellers from across the nation for the title of 2019 national Spelling Bee Champion and an opportunity to win a $40,000 prize. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
• Seventh-grader Aaron Chang (right) from the Audubon Elementary School and Maya Joshi from the Young Magnet High School during one of the final rounds of the annual Citywide Spelling Bee Championship at the Lindblom Math and Science Academy on March 14, 2019. The winner will earn the opportunity to represent Chicago Public Schools at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., where they will compete against the best spellers from across the nation for the title of 2019 national Spelling Bee Champion and an opportunity to win a $40,000 prize. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
• Parents came to support their son and carefully writes down spelling of all contest words during annual Citywide Spelling Bee Championship at the Lindblom Math and Science Academy on March 14, 2019. The winner will earn the opportunity to represent Chicago Public Schools at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., where they will compete against the best spellers from across the nation for the title of 2019 national Spelling Bee Champion and an opportunity to win a $40,000 prize. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
• Aaron Chang (left) from the Audubon Elementary School and Maya Joshi from the Young Magnet High School on the stage during one of the final rounds of the annual Citywide Spelling Bee Championship at the Lindblom Math and Science Academy on March 14, 2019. The winner will earn the opportunity to represent Chicago Public Schools at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., where they will compete against the best spellers from across the nation for the title of 2019 national Spelling Bee Champion and an opportunity to win a $40,000 prize. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
• Maya Joshi from the Young Magnet High School reacts as she misspelled the word during one of the final rounds of the annual Citywide Spelling Bee Championship at the Lindblom Math and Science Academy on March 14, 2019. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
• Some of the Chicago Public Schools’ best spellers from across the city compete in annual Citywide Spelling Bee Championship at the Lindblom Math and Science Academy on March 14, 2019. The winner will earn the opportunity to represent Chicago Public Schools at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., where they will compete against the best spellers from across the nation for the title of 2019 national Spelling Bee Champion and an opportunity to win a $40,000 prize. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
• Some of the Chicago Public Schools’ best spellers from across the city compete in annual Citywide Spelling Bee Championship at the Lindblom Math and Science Academy on March 14, 2019. The winner will earn the opportunity to represent Chicago Public Schools at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., where they will compete against the best spellers from across the nation for the title of 2019 national Spelling Bee Champion and an opportunity to win a $40,000 prize. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
• Some of the Chicago Public Schools’ best spellers from across the city compete in annual Citywide Spelling Bee Championship at the Lindblom Math and Science Academy on March 14, 2019. The winner will earn the opportunity to represent Chicago Public Schools at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., where they will compete against the best spellers from across the nation for the title of 2019 national Spelling Bee Champion and an opportunity to win a $40,000 prize. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
• One of the parents writes down spelling of all contest words in her notebook during annual Citywide Spelling Bee Championship at the Lindblom Math and Science Academy on March 14, 2019. The winner will earn the opportunity to represent Chicago Public Schools at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., where they will compete against the best spellers from across the nation for the title of 2019 national Spelling Bee Champion and an opportunity to win a $40,000 prize. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
• Some of the Chicago Public Schools’ best spellers from across the city compete in annual Citywide Spelling Bee Championship at the Lindblom Math and Science Academy on March 14, 2019. The winner will earn the opportunity to represent Chicago Public Schools at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., where they will compete against the best spellers from across the nation for the title of 2019 national Spelling Bee Champion and an opportunity to win a $40,000 prize. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times
• Johanna Lector from the Ravenswood Elementary School headed to hug her mother after falling out of the competition in one of the final rounds. Some of the Chicago Public Schools’ best spellers from across the city compete in annual Citywide Spelling Bee Championship at the Lindblom Math and Science Academy on March 14, 2019. | Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times