4th Grade Spelling Bee Champ Has Help From Above

Kunkletown, PA — With her fourth grade class hushed, Ms. Johnson pronounced the final word of the class wide competition. The contest had come down to its final two contests. Greg Farber, 8, was a tense, heavy underdog considering his opponent — Stacy Luper, 9, the Bee champion the past two years at Harrisburg Elementary.

"Stacy is the best speller in the grade," Tracy Harris, Stacy's self-proclaimed "b.f.f.a.e." protested. "Everybody knows that."

But this year would prove different.

"MATH-E-MATICS," Ms. Johnson repeated slowly.

Luper began to spell the word but stumbled. The uncharacteristic mistake created a palpable buzz in the room. Luper had left the door open for Farber, and he jumped at the opportunity. After spelling the final word correctly, Ms. Johnson proclaimed him victor. Farber had completed the improbable upset — but not without a little help from above.

"I just want to thank God," Farber said as he clutched his championship certificate. "I couldn't have done it without you, and I thank you for giving me the strength to come through when it mattered most."

The pre-teen went on to thank his mother for testing him every morning and his best friend Harry Herl, who had moved to Harrisburg the summer before. But most of the credit was directed at his lord and savior, who he believes guided him to his victory.

"Sure I was prepared," said Farber. "Sure I studied every morning for the last week. Sure I was in the top five the past two years. But come on, this is Stacy Luper we are talking about. There's no way I could have done this without God at my side. I just thank him for his help."