In its 12th year, the Coca Cola National Spelling Bee went to Dangriga. 12 primary schoolers, 2 from each district, put the southern town under their spell this morning. 7NEWS was there.
Jules Vasquez Reporting,
This year's finalists were posterized like spelling celebrities on a colorful stage. But who needed the glossy corporate posters, many of the finalists had their own homemade ones complete with cheering sections
in a very full house at the Father Marin Parish Hall in Dangriga, a bank of judges pored over the lists as the emcee kept up the pace. And what a pace it was. Can you spell superciliary? Yadira Argueta of St. Mathew's Anglican can and did.
Yadira Argueta, St. Mathew's Anglican
"Superciliary, S-U-P-E-R-C-I-L-I-A-R-Y; superciliary "
Emcee: 'You are correct.'
Or what about the rare Asian fruit called a Kumquat. Vionei Pott of Guinea Grass RC has that one under control.
Vionei Pott, Guinea Grass R.C.
"Cumquat, K-U-M-Q-U-A-T; cumquat."
Emcee: 'You are correct.'
Those were the words that came up in the elimination rounds and while many a heart was broken and many heads hung in dejection, at the end there were three. Dominique Gordon from All Saint's secured third place with this word.
Dominique Gordon, All Saint's
School
"Nephritis, N-E-P-H-R-I-T-I-S; nephritis."
Emcee: 'You are correct.'
That left Vionei Pott and Orlando Lopez from Santa Elena Primary vying for first and second. And when Vionei couldn't spelt antebellum.
Vionei Pott,
"Antebellum, A-N-T-I-B-E-L-U-M; antebellum."
Emcee: 'Try again.'
Vionei Pott,
"Antebellum, A-N-T-I-B-E-L-O-M-E;
antebellum."
Emcee: 'Try Again.'
Vionvei Pott,
"Antebellum, A-N-T-E-B-E-L-U-M, antebellum."
Emcee: 'Try Again.'
Vionvei Pott,
"Antebellum, A-N-T-I-B-E-L"
Emcee: 'The correct spelling of the word antebellum is ANTEBELLUM.'
That left it open for Orlando Lopez, but first he had to spell the obscure word eparchy and he nailed it.
Emcee: 'Orlando your word is eparchy, eparchy.'
Orlando Lopez,
"Eparchy?"
Emcee: 'Yes the meaning of the word eparchy is a province of the Orthodox Church. Sentence using the word eparchy: A special mass was held today for the Bishop of the eparchy who is very sick. Your word is eparchy.'
Orlando Lopez,
"Eparchy, E-P-A-R-C-H-Y; eparchy."
Emcee: 'You are correct.'
Announcer: "And the Coca National Spelling Bee Champion hails from the Cayo District, Santa Elena Cayo, Orlando Lopez."
[Applause]
And that feeling of contentment would continue after he got two handfuls of prizes including a laptop computer and a few hugs from his family.
Orlando Lopez, Spelling Bee Champ
"I am very excited, I am very relieved. I feel very happy. It is just so, I am just so happy. My teacher drilled me a lot, Miss Doreen Pastor and actually I just studied the
dictionary."
Vionvei Pott, Second Place
"I studied hard everyday and I thank my teachers who helped me with the words so I could learn."
Dominique Gordon, Third Place
"Last November I won the story reading and I was the story reading champ and I feel very good. Winning was the best thing that ever happened to me, I loved it."
And for all those who will try next year, these word perfect wordsmiths have spellbinding advice.
Orlando Lopez,
"My advice to any other student who would like to succeed in the Coca Cola National Spelling Bee is to just study very hard and work very hard because it takes a lot of work."
Dominique Gordon,
"I would tell them read because reading gets you to a whole other level."
For his first place finish Orlando Lopez took home a laptop computer, a printer, and resource books. He also got a 4 year tuition and book scholarship from the Ministry of Education and his school also got a computer and printer. Second place finisher Vionei Pott got just about the same prize but with a two year scholarship. All prizes were sponsored by Bowen and Bowen and the Ministry of Education.
