(L-R) Nicoletta Mhatera-Szczesniak of James’ Cistern Primary School (3rd Place Winner); Johnnecia Pinder of Preston Albury High School (2nd Place Winner); and Makena Alleyne of Tarpum Bay Primary School (1st Place CHAMPION).
(Eleuthera, Bahamas) – Thirty Eight (38) Spellers from throughout Eleuthera (a mix of sixth, seventh and eighth graders) began in round one of the 2015 Eleuthera District Spelling Bee, held at the Resource Center in Savannah Sound, on Friday, February 6th, 2015.
This number dropped very quickly to 13 spellers going into round two, where another five students were bested by their spelling word. Round three saw 8 spellers taking on the challenge. However, five of them were knocked out, leaving just three contestants moving on to round four.
All three held on and progressed to round five, where the word ‘pusillanimous’, spelled the end for Nicoletta Mhatera-Szczesniak of James’ Cistern Primary School who finished in third place.
Round six was the deciding round with just two spellers remaining, including, Johnnecia Pinder of Preston Albury High School and Makena Alleyne of Tarpum Bay Primary School. The first word given to Johnnecia was, ‘reconnoitre’, which she missed. So Makena was given a shot at the same word, and was successful.
There was a palpable level of excitement in the room as Makena then faced the opportunity to win by spelling the next word correctly. The announcer pronounced the word, ‘adumbrate’, and with a quick, confident smile of recognition, Makena who in earlier rounds had been quite deliberate in asking for definitions and usage within a sentence before spelling, took a deep breath and correctly spelled her final word – securing her spot as the Eleuthera District’s Spelling Champion of 2015.
The three finalists in the 2015 Eleuthera District Spelling Bee were:
1st Place – Makena Alleyne of Tarpum Bay Primary School
2nd Place – Johnnecia Pinder of Preston Albury High School
3rd Place – Nicoletta Mhatera-Szczesniak of James’ Cistern Primary School
