WINNERS ANNOUNCED AT INAUGURAL
TEXAS STATE SPANISH SPELLING BEE IN EL PASO
(El Paso, Texas) – Education Service Center Region 19 (ESC19) proudly announced the winners of the first-ever Texas State Spanish Spelling Bee, held June 19 at the Starlight Event Center in El Paso. The full-day competition brought together 32 top student spellers in grades 4–8 from across the state, marking a historic moment as Texas hosted the statewide Bee for the first time.
Danaé Tinajero from San Antonio claimed 1st place, correctly spelling the championship word “Paralelepípedos” to earn the top honor. Joaquín Martinez from McAllen placed 2nd, and Rogelio Lopez from South Houston secured 3rd place.
The fierce competition began at 9:20 a.m. and concluded at approximately 4 p.m., with the entire event streamed live on the ESCRegion19 YouTube channel. The evening culminated in an awards banquet where all participants were recognized for their achievement and dedication.
Every student received:
• A $50 Barnes & Noble gift card
• A medal and certificate of participation
Top awards included:
• 1st place: Trophy
• 2nd & 3rd place: Plaques
The top 10 finishers now advance to represent Texas at the National Spanish Spelling Bee, scheduled for July 11–12 in Albuquerque, New Mexico:
1. Danaé Tinajero, San Antonio
2. Joaquín Martinez, McAllen
3. Rogelio Lopez, South Houston
4. Leah Sanchez, Houston
5. Ximena Rocha, Pharr
6. Mateo Rawls, San Antonio
7. Melody Hinkle, Fort Worth
8. Emiliano Ferran Martinez Caloca, El Paso
9. Mateo Loza, Prosper
10. Nicole Alcala, Hidalgo
“This was more than just a spelling competition—it was a celebration of language, culture, and community,” said
Silvia Zacarias, ESC19 Professional Development Consultant and event organizer. “We’re proud of every student
who participated, and we look forward to cheering on Team Texas at the national level next month.”
For more information and to view the recorded livestream, visit the ESC19 YouTube channel at @ESCRegion19.
To learn more about the Spanish Spelling Bee program, visit the ESC19 Spanish Spelling Bees webpage.
Click HERE to view the event program.
You can also photos and video clips on our ESC19 Facebook page.
Media Contact:
Silvia Zacarias
ESC19 Spanish Spelling Bee Event Organizer