The goal of the spelling bee is to encourage children to perfect the art of spelling, and help enlarge their vocabularies and widen their knowledge of the English language.

More than 200 grade-school students from more than 40 school districts, private schools and home schools in Central New York entered this year’s competition. The top 36 from the written test will advance to the Feb. 2 oral competition contest, and the winner will participate in the Scripps National Spelling Bee from May 27 to June 1 in Washington, D.C.

Here’s the list of the 36 contestants for the Feb. 2 Post-Standard/WCNY Spelling Bee:

1. Alaina Kenny, Onondaga Hill Middle School (Westhill), 7th grade

2. Maja Cannavo, Manlius Pebble Hill, 8th grade

3. Emily Carello, H.W. Smith (Syracuse), 8th grade

4. Mimi Lu, Eagle Hill Middle (Fayetteville-Manlius), 8th grade

5. Urie Choi, Eagle Hill Middle (Fayetteville-Manlius), 8th grade

6. Aaron DuBois, Durgee Jr. High (Baldwinsville), 8th grade

7. Laurel White, Liverpool Middle, 8th grade

8. Julia Georges, Central Square Middle, 8th grade

9. Zach Coldren, North Syracuse Jr. High (North Syracuse City School District), 8th grade

10. Griffin Marriner, Lanigan Elementary (Fulton City), 4th grade

11. Vizma Leimanis, homeschool, 7th grade

12. Snigdha Patra, Eagle Hill Middle (Fayetteville-Manlius), 5th grade

13. Grace Getman, Christian Brothers Academy, 7th grade

14. Russell Graziano, West Genesee Middle, 8th grade

15. Hannah Scalisi, Gillette Road Middle (NSCSD), 7th grade

16. Joshua Lacey-Baldwin, HW Smith (Syracuse), 7th grade

17. Tess Engst-Mansilla, Barry Elementary (Cortland), 6th grade

18. Kevin Blydenburgh, Central Square Middle, 8th grade

19. Ben Smolen, Otto Shortell Middle (Oneida City), 8th grade

20. Meghan Graber, Christian Brothers Academy, 7th grade

21. Nicholas Klipp, Durgee Jr. High (Baldwinsville), 8th grade

22. Hannah Kessel, Camillus Middle (West Genesee), 7th grade

23. Sara Hopkins, Bishop Grimes, 8th grade

24. Daniel Wrona, Driver Middle (Marcellus), 7th grade

25. Nicholas Cantello, West Genesee Middle, 8th grade

26. Bianca Gascon, McNamara Elementary (Baldwinsville), 4th grade

27. Lily Sochan-Rosen, Durgee Jr. High (Baldwinsville), 8th grade

28. Jill Ward, Camillus Middle (West Genesee), 8th grade

29. Brennan Costello, West Genesee Middle, 8th grade

30. Ellyn Prusinowski, Soule Road Middle (Liverpool), 7th grade

31. Madeline Saarie, Durgee Jr. High (Baldwinsville), 8th grade

32. Emily Hung, Soule Road Middle (Liverpool), 8th grade

33. Lauren Shatraw, Ed Smith (Syracuse), 8th grade

34. Camryn Greabell, Pine Grove Middle (ESM), 7th grade

35. Rachel Christie, Bishop Grimes, 8th grade

36. Eric Leubner, homeschool, 5th grade