VILLAGGIO -- Eighth-grader Naomi Wheeler won this year's Vicenza Elementary/Middle School Championship Spelling Bee competition after spelling the word "gorse" on Round 28.
The event, sponsored by the Vicenza Schools PTSA, took place at the Villaggio VES/VMS Multipurpose Room Jan. 20.
Twenty contestants from elementary and middle school spelled about 150 words during 28 rounds of competition.
"The students battled their way through heavy-duty fire," said Teresa Taylor, VMS Spelling Bee sponsor.
"Competition was fierce with the younger elementary students holding their own over older middle school students," she said.
The other winners were VES fourth-grader Taniaya Bailey, who took second place after placing third last year, and Melissa Ricketts placed third. During the competition, participants spelled words such as "hegemony," "pachyderm," "courtyard," "ecclesiastical" and "plethora" in front of four judges, including USAG Italy Commander Col. Steven Marks, MED District English Language Arts Coordinator Noni Hoag, retired Col. Craig Cotter and School Liaison Officer Beth Potter.
One of the participants, eight-grader Chrisraine Gilpin, arrived in Vicenza two weeks before the competition.
"I thought that the most difficult word to spell was 'deciduous', while the easiest was 'ciao,'" she said.
Wheeler is eligible to represent both schools in the European PTSA Spelling Bee at Ramstein, Germany, next month.
"I will start studying as soon as I receive the words," she said after receiving her trophy.
Bailey, in second place, is the alternate to represent Vicenza should Wheeler not be able to attend.
To conclude the event, Spelling Bee contestants enjoyed their participation by sharing a piece of cake with their teachers, principals, family and friends.
Participants were, listed in place order, 1-20: Naomi Wheeler; Taniaya Bailey; Melissa Ricketts; Chrisraine Gilpin; Will Segulin; Nicole Delgado; Alex Kloepper; Michael Belfer; Gabriella Patterson; Colin Frazee; Regan Wilson; Maxwell Grife; Marissa Willard; Matthew Bender; Luca Powell; Kyle Barker; Zy'on Thompson; Driston Dowling; Regan Toro-Johnson; and Jacian McPhee.
Social Sharing