The local spelling bee champion was Ike Sperling, a fourth-grader from Jacoby Creek, and the winning word was continuum.
“We are so proud of Ike’s amazing accomplishment,” said Melanie Nannizzi, superintendent/principal of Jacoby Creek School. “We are thrilled to have him represent Jacoby Creek School and Humboldt County in the National Spelling Bee Competition,” she added.
A student from Fortuna Middle School finished in the top three at the recent Paulette Gillam Humboldt County Spelling Bee. Vivian Mull, an eighth-grader, took third place.
The national competition will take place in May in Maryland.
Second place was awarded to Juniper Kyle, a fifth-grader at Lafayette Elementary School.
School Principal Quincy Brownfield said she was very proud of Kyle’s accomplishment.
“Her hard work and efforts she put forth while preparing for the event certainly paid off,” Brownfield said.
“None of us were surprised by how well she did,” she added.
One of Kyle’s teachers, Andrew Pierce said, “It’s no surprise Juniper is such a successful speller. She is a student who loves to read … and as a result, spelling does not feel stressful or challenging to her.”
About Mull’s third-place finish in the local spelling bee, Fortuna Middle School Principal Saul Lewis said, “Vivian’s success in the spelling bee is a testament to her work ethic and attention to detail. She is an outstanding student and takes pride in all she does. … I am proud of Vivian’s accomplishments and how she represents Fortuna Middle School.”
These top three students were among 14 fourth- through ninth-graders who participated in the Paulette Gillam Humboldt County Spelling Bee, which was named this year in honor of Gillam, who worked for the Humboldt County Office of Education for almost 30 years. She was the organizing force behind the Humboldt County Spelling Bee and is fondly remembered at the “Queen Bee.”
This year was the 40th annual Humboldt County Spelling Bee competition, and it was held on Feb. 27 at the Sequoia Conference Center in Eureka.
