The Regional Championship for the Eighth Dawn in Education Spelling Bee 2012, was held at the Islamabad Club Auditorium from September 19 to September 25, 2012.

The competition commenced with the pool rounds that were played in Skardu at the Mashabrum Hotel on the September 4 and 5, 2012.

Teams from Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Abottabad, Muzzaffarabad, Mirpur, Hasanabdal, Chakwal, Kohat, Kahrian, Risalpur, Mardan, Peshawar, Charsada, Skardu, Khaplu, Kawardu and surrounding areas of Gilgit Baltistan, participated in the Spelling Bee Competition 2012.

Approximately 200 schools and 1000 students participated in the competition. The pool rounds were played among 10-12 teams, which included Buzz Word round, Double-Sting round and To Bee or Not to Bee round (in case of a tie).

Winning teams of the pool rounds played the Final Word round and the Elimination rounds on individual basis. From these participants, the Regional winners qualified for the National Spelling Bee Competition. The names of the winners are mentioned below:

Islamabad Regional Champions of the 9-11 age group: Jazim Nadeem from EMS High School Islamabad (winner), 1st runner-up Amal Nadeem Kazi from Modern Age Public School Abbottabad and 2nd runner-up Aarib Javaid from EMS High School Islamabad.

Islamabad Regional Champions of the 12-14 age group: Mohammad Usama Khan from Garrison Cadet College Kohat (winner), 1st runner-up Furqan Alavi and 2nd runner-up Mohammad Hussain Naqvi, both were from EMS High School Islamabad.

Islamabad Regional Champions of the 15-17 age group: Maria Gulzar from EMS High School (winner), 1st runner-up Usama bin Shafqat from Roots School System and the 2nd runner-up was Mahnoor Furqan from The City School.

Skardu pool rounds winners

9-11 age group: Pool Round Champion Arooj Tahir and 1st runner-up Mohammad Ali, both were from Army Public School, Skardu; and 2nd runner-up Mohammad Danyal Younus from Pepper Dine Schools Network Boys Campus, Skardu.

12-14 age group: Pool Round Champion Huma Shahid from Public School & College for Girls, 1st runner-up was Mubarak Ali from Public School & College for Boys and the 2nd runner-up was Mohammad Ali from Uswa Public School Yultar.

15-17 age group: Pool Round Champion Kubra Zainab of Public School & College for Girls, 1st runner-up Rubab Batool of English Access Microscholarship Programme and 2nd runner-up Arooj Fatima from Public School & College for Girls, Skardu.

Certificates were distributed among the Regional winners and the participants by the judges of the competition. The jury for the competition comprised two judges per session, provided by the Oxford University Press.

Ms Rabeea Salman and Ms Azbail Raja were the moderators from Dawn. Pronouncers for the competition were Ms Azka Khan and Mr Faez Roger.— Azbail Raja