Spelling Bee a smorgasbord of words
Nicole Tavenner
With fingers clenched, Taleah Hernandez watches the correct sign rise after accurately spelling “chihuahua” and “conglomerate” to win her second consecutive Lake County Spelling Bee.
Nicole Tavenner
Shalom Walker and other spelling bee participants wait their turn to test their skills.
Nicole Tavenner
David Castillo, third-place finisher, concentrates during his third round of words.
Nicole Tavenner
Chairs empty as contestants are eliminated, leaving only first placer Taleah Hernandez, left, and second-place winner Brynn Pule.
Nicole Tavenner
“I’m humbled every year I do this,” said Michelle Wood, former Lake County Superintendent of Schools. Wood was the pronouncer for the Bee.
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
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The English language is a cruel accumulation of various cultures from throughout time. In an era that relies heavily on digital auto correct, many might think spelling is a skill of the past. Not true for the spellers in grades five through eight that met last week in Ronan for Lake County’s 51st Spelling Bee.
Words with various origins and pronunciations, that many adults likely couldn’t spell, were tossed around on stage at the Ronan Performing Arts Center. About 50 of the best spellers from schools in the county, including home schooled students, met to test their skills. Students were allowed to ask the Pronouncer for the definition of each word, origin, and for the word to be used in a sentence. Many of the words were ones students had never heard before, such as schnitzel (a tasty fried pork cutlet from Germany).
Beneath bright spotlights on stage, Taleah Hernandez, a sixth grader from Polson, took first place at the Spelling Bee. She correctly spelled every word throughout the event’s various rounds. The two words that set her on top were “chihuahua” and “conglomerate.”
Brynn Pule, a seventh grader from St. Ignatius, took second place, spelling “sanctimonious” correctly.
Polson eighth-grader David Castillo and Dominic Marquez, a seventh grader from Charlo, battled it out for third place over many rounds with words such as “freesia” and “potpourri.” Ultimately Castillo persevered, working through many challenging words.
Judges of the Bee were at one time or another Lake County Superintendents, including Paula Holle of Bigfork, Gale Decker of Ronan, and Anne Stewart of Arlee. Pronouncer Michelle Wood is a former Lake County Superintendent as well.
Hernandez and Pule will head to Billings for the State Bee at the Rocky Mountain College in Billings on March 19. Costs associated with travel to the competition were covered by a donation from the Lower Flathead Valley Community Foundation. Ronan Auto Parts helped with the expenses of the trophies.
Winners of the State Bee will move on to the National Bee in Washington, D.C. May 24-26.
