The 69th Edition of the WITF Central PA Spelling Bee was held on March 15, 2025, at Harrisburg University of Science and Technology. Over 200 spellers from 10 Central PA counties participated in this year’s Bee. After an online written test, the top 33 spellers have qualified for the Grand Championship Bee. The winner competed at the 100th Scripps National Spelling Bee in the Washington, DC area in May.

WITF and Pennon Education are excited to announce that Akshaj Somisetty is the top speller of the 2025 Central PA Spelling Bee for the second consecutive year, earning the opportunity to compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in May 2025.

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Coming up on this week's edition of The Spark Weekly.

June marks Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to spotlight the unique challenges men face in seeking mental health support. Dr. Luke Piper, a psychiatrist at UPMC Lititz, joined The Spark Weekly to share both professional insights and a deeply personal story.

When Van Wagner talks about trees, it’s more than just classroom chatter — it’s a personal mission. The Danville Area High School agriculture teacher and certified forester recently completed a unique and physically demanding journey: climbing a tree at the highest point in each of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties.

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In a time of deep political division, two leaders with vastly different backgrounds—one in marketing, the other in human resources—are helping Pennsylvanians find common ground through Braver Angels, a national nonprofit focused on depolarization.

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