Allen Defends Spelling Bee Title
Thu, 01/26/2017 - 18:00
Bolivar1
It took 16 rounds and 186 words, but Jace Allen of Hornsby Elementary came out on top in the Hardeman County Spelling Bee for the second year in a row.
“I was kind of scared all year,” he said in describing his preparation to defend his title. “But my mom and I studied hard.”
Allen added that his toughest word was “Phrenologist,” but his final word, the title clincher, was “malacca” which is the stem of a rattan palm, used for making canes and umbrella handles. Allen won his local qualifier at Hornsby Elementary.
Second place Shelby Smith of Hornsby missed the word “outre” a word derived from French. Smith also finished second in the Hornsby qualifier.
Kaylee Bryant of Bolivar Middle School finished third and Jaliyah Woods of Bolivar Elementary was fourth.
Students from eight schools in Hardeman County qualified for the final on January 23 by finishing in the top three of their school’s spelling bee. A fourth-place alternate position was also awarded in case a student was unable to attend. The top four from each school were given certificates of participation by the Hardeman County School Board.
Not placing in the top four overall were: 23rd- Tristian Crawford, Grand Junction; 21st-Jakayla Polk, Whiteville, Alexis Williams, Toone; 20th-Lily Reid, Toone; T18th-Rickia Williams, Grand Junction, Elizabeth Floyd, Bolivar Elementary; T14th-Caitley Mott, Middleton Elementary, Maddie Willis, Middleton Elementary, Ella Willis, Middleton Elementary, Caitlyn Clark, Whiteville; T9th-Nate Daniel, Middleton Elementary, Alexx Sterling, Toone, Patrick Perry, Bolivar Middle, Caleb Hayden, Middleton Middle, Quindarius Robinson, Whiteville; T5th-Kyle Hammons, Bolivar Elementary, Cheyenne Burnett, Grand Junction, Sydni Aylor, Hornsby, and Lauren Milford, Middelton Middle.
Dr. Dorrie Powell, Hardeman County Gear-Up Site Coordinator for the Hardeman County schools was the pronouncer, with Carla Clifft, Dorothy Cross, and Major Wilburn serving as judges. Monica Shaw, Dr. Darrell Wooden, and Bobby Doyle of the Hardeman County Schools Central office coordinated the event.
Aiding in sponsoring the event was Shelton’s Flowers and Gifts, Southern Daisy’s Boutique, Walmart, Merchants and Planters Bank, and The County Journal, Incorporated.
The event was broadcast live on WMOD (96.7-FM) and is archived on County Journal Television on wmodradio.com.