It might not attract as much attention as the Spelling Bee, but the Finger Bee held every year for the past 11 years holds its own as a mainstay of Disabilities Week. It was held today at the Belize Elementary Auditorium and disabled children from special education schools across the country participated. We were there as the senior winner spelt his way to a victory.
Alfonso Noble Reporting,
After the first 3 rounds of competition Kelsey Balan was first to be eliminated, she came off the stage in an emotional state and had to be comforted by her family. As the competition progressed into the 4th and final round when St. Peter's School in Orange Walk Elton Balan emerged victorious. His first reaction was to be happy to get a chance to be on TV.
Elton Balan, Finger Bee Champ
[Through Interpreter] "He feels so proud and happy because they will be seeing him on television. Now he is so happy and he wants to go back so that the school can know that he is the winner."
And he says becoming the winner was not easy especially because of the difficulty of the words which were chosen this year.
Elton Balan,
[Through Interpreter] "Some of the words were hard, difficult. The word like 'sophisticated,' words such as 'enthusiasm' and many more...oh 'exaggerate' and 'enthusiasm' were difficult.
Difficult but after walking away with a television and a chance to be on television we imagine it was all worth it for Colon.
First place finisher in the junior category of the Finger Bee is Angel Tun from Bernice Yorke Institute while Elton Colon from St. Peters in Orange Walk won the senior prize. Both took home a television and a DVD player from Bowen and Bowen's Crystal Water.
