St. Francis Academy student is state spelling bee champion

Rose Kalupahana, an 8th grader at St. Francis Academy in Union City, was declared the state’s top speller at the New Jersey State Knights of Columbus 2023 Spelling Bee on April 16.  

Kalupahana, along with three other students from the Archdiocese of Newark and seven others from Camden and Metuchen dioceses, competed Sunday in the spelling bee held at the Church of the Epiphany in Brick vying for the winning title of 2023 Knights of Columbus New Jersey State Spelling Bee Champion.  

After competing in the annual Archdiocese of Newark Knights of Columbus Spelling Bee on Sunday, March 19, Kalupahana, Edbert Aquino of Academy of Our Lady of Grace in Fairview, Ian Soto of Veteran's Middle School in North Arlington, and Jayden Papasavas of Corpus Christi School in Hasbrouck Heights moved on to the state finals.  

Kalupahana took home a commemorative plaque for her first-place victory at the bee, which she said she was determined to win once she qualified for the championship round. She has had a love for spelling from an early age and has discovered many benefits from being an accomplished speller, Kalupahana said. 

“It feels great to be the Knights of Columbus state champion speller,” she said. “My mindset was to win, and I went home with a great title and award, and I thank God for this. I have won thanks to my family, my school – St. Francis Academy – my friends, and most importantly God.” 

Kalupahana was also sure to thank her biggest supporter, her mother, for her help in preparing for the spelling bee. “My main supporter is my mom; she has encouraged me to reach all my goals,” Kalupahana said. “Whatever lies ahead of me, with God’s love, I plan to work hard, have a positive mindset, and succeed.” 

Michele Giallombardo, reading, language arts, and forensics teacher at St. Francis Academy, said that Kalupahana is a natural speller.  

“Her interest in words, their sounds, the letters used to create them, and their uses are the reasons why she was successful,” Giallombardo said. 


2023 Knights of Columbus New Jersey State Spelling Bee Champion Rose Kalupahana, an 8th grader at St. Francis Academy in Union City, proudly shows off her first-place plaque which she earned at the New Jersey Statewide Knights of Columbus Spelling Bee on April 16.