Sisters Battle to Final Round at Palm Springs Spelling Bee

Imagine studying for weeks to compete in your school district's spelling bee, only to find yourself facing your own sister in the championship round.

That's exactly what happened to Juniper and Marygold Donovan at the Palm Springs Unified School District Spelling Bee of Champions. Eighth grader Juniper from Nellie Kaufman Middle School went head to head with her fourth grade sister Marygold from Rancho Mirage Elementary in an all-family finale that had everyone watching.

The competition heated up as both sisters advanced through increasingly difficult words. As the reigning district champion from last year, Juniper knew the pressure of performing under the spotlight, but this time she had a new kind of challenge.

In round 16, Juniper clinched her second consecutive championship by correctly spelling "shaman." The victory sends her to represent Palm Springs Unified School District at the Riverside County Spelling Bee on March 26, while Marygold will serve as the alternate competitor.

Sunny's Take

What makes this story special isn't just the academic achievement. It's watching two sisters support each other through intense competition, showing that family bonds can be stronger than rivalry.

Both girls demonstrated composure under pressure, tackling difficult words in front of an audience while competing against someone they share a bedroom with. That takes a different kind of courage than most spelling bees require.

The district's annual Spelling Bee of Champions celebrates students across all grade levels, giving younger competitors like Marygold a chance to test their skills alongside more experienced spellers. For a fourth grader to make it all the way to the final round against an eighth grade champion speaks volumes about her dedication and talent.

Win or lose, both Donovan sisters are already champions in the way that matters most.