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Stellar Santa Cruz County Spellers of 2012
or close to 30 years, the most gifted spellers from school sites across Santa Cruz County have been coming together to show off their superior word formation knowledge. Saturday, February 25, 2012, followed suit with the Santa Cruz County Office of Education hosting Spelling Bee concurrent Championships at UCSC for students in grades 4-6 and 7-9. School sites sent their top two spellers in each division to participate in the competition. After registering and picking up gift bags which included a commemorative t-shirt (by Sports
Design), and a pen and slug pin (donated by the Bay Tree Bookstore), the students moved into two rooms, one for grades 4–6 and the other for grades 7-9. Following a review of the rules, the spelling bee began. The Spell Master read each word, gave a definition and put each word into a sentence. Spellers were then given 15 seconds to write down the word before a proctor checked the spelling. The two and half hour competition allowed for students to spell 50 – 60 words. At the halfway point of the event, spellers and their families were treated to cookies donated by Pacific Cookie Company and apple juice compliments of S. Martinelli’s
6 / April 2012 / Capitola Soquel Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com
& Co. In a field of over 90 students in the elementary Holt division, Larkin, a 5th grader from Westlake Elementary School, earned first place in the championship when he correctly spelled all but six out of 58 words properly, giving him the title of Santa Cruz County Spelling Bee champ and the opportuni- First place winner Holt Larkin of Westlake Elementary (from left), Madeline ty to advance to the Lipscomb of Bonny Doon (second) and Ian Ly of Spring Hill (third). state spelling bee. Also advancing to the ing the next level of competition. The state spelling bee is second-place winner, third place winner was Jesse Wade of Madeline Lipscomb, a student at Bonny Rose Arbor School. The state championships for students Doon Elementary School. The third place in grades 7–9 will be Saturday, May 12, at winner was Ian Ly of Spring Hill. The state championships for students Miller Creek Middle School, 2255 Las in grade 4–6 will be Saturday, April 21, at Gallinas Avenue in San Rafael. The top three finalists in each divithe San Joaquin County Office of Education, Wentworth Education Center, sion received a trophy donated by Brinks Awards and Signs along with two full day 2707 Transworld Drive in Stockton. In the 7–9th grade division, with passes per winner to the Santa Cruz Beach approximately 40 participants, Andrew Boardwalk donated by the Santa Cruz Miller, an 8th grader at Ocean Grove Seaside Company. Additionally, the Santa Charter, earned the title of Santa Cruz Cruz Sentinel will provide each of the top County Spelling Bee champ, missing only four finalists with a travel stipend of $150 two of 65 words, and will advance to the to help cover the costs of the state contest. In addition to recognizing the top state spelling bee competition. Going to the state championship along with Miller three students in each division, a raffle is second-place winner Margaret was held for the remaining participants Hedrick, an 8th grade student at Mission as each student participating was a Hill Middle School. Having represented “spelling champion” in their own right. Santa Cruz County in previous State Prizes included: Spelling Bee competitions (Miller in • Four more all day passes to Santa Cruz grades 4, 5, 7 and 8 and Hedrick in grades Beach Boardwalk, 6, 7 and 8), they know what to expect dur- • Five gift certificates for private Tai Kuan Do lessons at Choi’s Tai Kuan Do, • Ten passes to the Santa Cruz Roller Palladium Furthermore, every student received gift certificates from Papa John’s Pizza in Scotts Valley along with gift certificates from Taco Bell. Congratulations to the 2012 Santa Cruz County Spelling Bee participants. All of the students did an outOcean Grove Charter Eighth Grader Andrew Miller (left) won the 7-9th standing job representing their schools as maggrade division, Margaret Hedrick of Mission Hill (right) took second nificent spellers. n and Jesse Wade of Rose Arbor placed third.