Mackenzie Sambroak, Roosevelt Elementary fifth-grader, found her strength — or her tour de force — by correctly spelling ‘tour de force’ and becoming The Vindicator’s 85th Regional Spelling Bee champion.
“I really didn’t expect to win,” she said Saturday at Youngstown State University. “This is the biggest trophy I’ve ever gotten.”
Mackenzie’s language arts teacher Elaine Rupe was ecstatic to celebrate with her student.
“[Mackenzie]’s an amazing student,” Rupe said. “She’s brilliant and an avid reader and I am just so proud of her.”