The Culpeper County Spelling Bee took place at Yowell Elementary this past Wednesday, January 24, 2024. The bee showcased the impressive spelling abilities of our students from all six elementary schools. With 18 participants vying for the title, the competition was fierce and went on for 18 intense rounds before a victor emerged.
The auditorium buzzed with anticipation as students nervously took to the microphone ready to conquer the challenging words thrown their way. From the very start, it was evident that this year's spelling bee would be nothing short of spectacular, with the young contestants demonstrating remarkable composure and confidence under pressure.
Among the words that tested the students' spelling acumen were challenges such as antechamber, Gilgamesh, lanthanides, and diatonic. Despite the complexity of these words, participants rose to the occasion, spelling them with precision and poise.
As the rounds progressed, the competition grew increasingly intense, with each correct spelling met with enthusiastic applause from the audience. Spectators watched in awe as the young spellers showcased their dedication to mastering the intricacies of the English language.
As the competition approached round 18, the field narrowed down to a select few who demonstrated exceptional spelling abilities. The final rounds were marked by a fight for the finish, with each contestant vying for the coveted title of Culpeper County Spelling Bee Champion.
In the end, it was last year’s CCPS Spelling Bee Champion, A.G. Richardson 5th grader Grayson Cox, who emerged victorious, spelling the championship word, affiliate, with confidence and accuracy. He was awarded the prestigious title amid cheers and applause from the audience, cementing his place as a two-year CCPS spelling champion. This year’s runner up was A.G. Richardson’s Ian Balino and the third-place winner was Lilly Johnson from Emerald Hill Elementary.
The County Spelling Bee included the top three finishers from each school’s spelling bee:
A.G. RICHARDSON: Ian Balino, Kaedyn Sutherland, Grayson Cox
EMERALD HILL: Lilly Johnson, Nathan Grayson, Emelyn Guinn
FARMINGTON: Adleigh Waddell, Anthony Sherman, Charlee Nicholson
PEARL SAMPLE: Penelope Womack, Jamil Faqiri, Layne Horak
SYCAMORE PARK: Noah Wester, Sophia Jolivette, Christian Flores
YOWELL: Oliver Green, Carson Franklin, Thiago Pomahuacri Garcia
The Culpeper County Spelling Bee owes much of its success to the dedication and hard work of the adults who volunteer their time and expertise to ensure a smooth and fair competition. Kelsi Noel, the bee pronouncer, skillfully guided contestants through the challenging words with clarity and precision. The 2024 judges were Deputy Rob Vail, Wes Mayles, and Mikal Woodward. Behind the scenes Spelling Bee Coordinators played an instrumental role in organizing and executing the event seamlessly. Karen Dugger, represented the division, and each school had a bee coordinator including Becky Murdock from Yowell Elementary, Kristin Marini from A.G. Richardson Elementary, Hilary Farnam from Pearl Sample Elementary, Mindy Brooks-Smith from Sycamore Park Elementary, Lance Lacey from Emerald Hill Elementary, and Grace Harris from Farmington Elementary.
The success of the Culpeper County Spelling Bee would not have been possible without the generous support of the event sponsors. CCPS extends heartfelt gratitude to Bounce With Us, Yowell Elementary School, Eppard Orthodontics, and Chick-Fil-A for their commitment to educational initiatives in our community. We are truly grateful for their partnership and look forward to continuing to work together to empower and inspire the students of Culpeper County.
