Students Not Blasé About Spelling
On Feb. 16, 40 spellers from south central Minnesota competed in the South Central Service Cooperative (SCSC) qualifier for the Scripps National Spelling Bee. These 5th-8th grade students had previously won their local bees.
After 13 rounds, Antony Joseph, a seventh grade student from Fairmont Jr./Sr. High School, was named champion with his correct spelling of “blasé,” which means apathetic to pleasure or life especially as a result of excessive indulgence or enjoyment. This marks Joseph’s third SCSC Spelling Bee championship honor.
Joseph was awarded a plaque, spelling supplement, savings bond, one-year subscription to Encyclopedia Britannica Online, the Merriam-Webster dictionary used in the bee, and travel expenses and accommodations at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. for Joseph and a chaperone.
The top spellers also included second place Alex Quist, St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran School; third place Ashley Watkins, Mountain Lake High School; and fourth place Megan Vikla, Holy Cross Catholic School in Webster.
Other participating schools included Bridges Elementary School, Mankato; Cleveland Elementary School; Comfrey Public Schools; Dakota Meadows Middle School, Mankato; Eagle View Elementary School, New Prague; Ellendale Elementary; Fairmont Elementary; Falcon Ridge Elementary School, New Prague; Fitzgerald Intermediate School, Mankato; Granada-Huntley-East Chain; Immanuel Lutheran School, Mankato; Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton HS; Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial; Le Sueur-Henderson Middle School; Madelia Elementary School; Maple River Schools; Martin County West Junior High; Montgomery-Lonsdale; Mount Olive Lutheran School, Mankato; New Prague Middle School; New Ulm Area Catholic Schools; Nicollet Public Schools; North Intermediate, St. Peter; Raven Stream Elementary, New Prague; Sleepy Eye Public High School; Springfield High School; St. Anne’s School, Le Sueur; St. Clair Elementary; St. James High School; St. John Vianney School, Fairmont; St. Paul's Lutheran, New Ulm; St. Paul’s Lutheran, Fairmont; St. Wenceslaus School, New Prague; Team Academy, Waseca; Truman Schools; United South Central High School; Waterville-Elysian-Morristown; Windom Middle School.
The SCSC bee was made possible by generous sponsorships from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, North Mankato Civic & Commerce Association, Taylor Corp, St. Peter Kiwanis, St. Peter Lions Club, The Free Press, Hexco Academic, Mankato Walmart, iStar Financial, Merriam-Webster and Encyclopedia Britannica.
In addition to improving students’ spelling skills and increasing their vocabularies, spelling bee participation provides valuable experience in developing poise—a necessary skill for success in public speaking, performing arts and athletics.