On Thursday, March 12, the Upper Peninsula Community Education Association had its annual U.P. Spelling Bee Finals hosted by Ishpeming-Negaunee-NICE Community Schools. Fifty-six champion spellers from around the U.P. competed in this special event. They went through a series of spell downs in their classroom, grade, district, region and now, for the UPs. The finalists are First Place Champion Caleb Leppanen from Aspen Ridge School in Ishpeming; first runner-up is Madilyn Dubord from Bark River-Harris Schools in Harris; second runner-up is Azan Cleary from Bothwell Middle School in Marquette, and third runner-up is Silas Whitney from Superior Hills Elementary School in Marquette. (Courtesy photo)