Students swarm for annual district spelling bee

Josie Luke

A swarm of students gathered at Emery High School to demonstrate their spelling proficiency in the Emery County School District Spelling Bee on March 12. A total of 21 students competed, representing each of the elementary schools and junior high schools in Emery County.

The event began with a practice round where each student was given the opportunity to attempt a word without the threat of being eliminated. The students then began the actual competition, with five being eliminated in the first round, nine in the second round, two in the third round and three in the fourth round, with those who exited in the fourth round tying for third place.

The fifth round brought a duel between the last two competitors, Shaydee Murray, the sixth grade winner from Huntington Elementary, and Olivia Burton, the eighth grade winner from Canyon View Junior High. After seesawing back and forth, correctly spelling their words, Olivia misspelled ‘dross’ and Shaydee had the opportunity to win by spelling the next two words correctly. She then spelled ‘eureka’ and ‘filibuster’ correctly to come out of the competition as the District Spelling Bee winner.

The winners of the school level competitions were: fourth-grader Tyrell Shumway and fifth-grader Dakota Wetherington from Book Cliff Elementary; fourth-grader Chad Collard, fifth-grader Valerie Chynoweth and sixth-grader Sabrina Copeland from Castle Dale Elementary; fourth-grader Skyler Sitterud, fifth-grader Taylor Butler and sixth-grader Brittany Huntsman from Cleveland Elementary; fourth-grader Braydon Roberts, fifth-grader Charlie Turner and sixth-grader Jordan Snow from Cottonwood Elementary; fourth-grader Devin Willson, fifth-grader Tyson Roper and sixth-grader Sidnee Conder from Ferron Elementary; fourth-grader Kamrie Simmons, fifth-grader Andrew Higgens and sixth-grader Shaydee Murray from Huntington Elementary; seventh-grader Darrian Kister and eighth-grader Olivia Burton from Canyon View Jr. High; seventh-grader Greg Johnson from Green River; and seventh-grader Lauren Clarke and eighth-grader McKayla Worthen from San Rafael Junior High.