Three DuPage students advance in spelling bee

Three students emerged Wednesday from a field of 24 contestants from private and parochial schools across DuPage County to advance to the next round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee competition.

The students went head-to-head at the Islamic Foundation School in Villa Park for a chance to participate in the DuPage County District Final Spelling Bee to be held Feb. 26 at Wheaton North High School.

The three top finishers in the Private School Spelling Bee were Eva Analitis, an eighth-grader from St. Raphael Catholic School in Naperville; Jibran Haque, a fifth-grader from the College Preparatory School of America in Lombard; and Ananya Asthana, a sixth-grader from Avery Coonley School in Downers Grove.

In addition to advancing to the next round, all three students received framed certificates.

The Scripps National Spelling Bee is the nation's largest and longest-running educational promotion, according to the group's website. The national finals are held near Washington, D.C.