B-e-e mine: Spelling contest title up for grabs Thursday

Fifty-two students from school districts across town will be r-e-p-r-e-s-e-n-t-i-n-g their home campuses Thursday during the 67th Annual Yuma County Spelling Bee.

The free event, hosted by the Yuma Sun's Newspapers in Education (NIE) program and organized by the Yuma County School Superintendent's Office, will begin at 10:30 a.m. in the Historic Yuma Theatre, 254 S. Main St.

Students competing this year range from third- to eighth-graders from public, private and charter schools in the area.

Every year, the event draws a great group of spellers, said Karen Phillips, NIE/customer service manager, adding that sometimes the students end up competing through lunchtime.

“These kids are amazing. The words that they can spell are just phenomenal, some of them I can't even pronounce let alone spell,” Phillips said.

“If you're out and have nothing to do that day, by all means come by and encourage these kids. It would be great for you and great for the kids also.”

Phillips explained that because last year's winner, Alessia Garcia, is now in high school, she won't be competing to defend her title. The playing field is now open for a new face to go home with the win, she said.

Judges this year include Jacob Anderson, 2010 Yuma County Teacher of the Year from Gila Ridge High School; John Vaughn, Bajo El Sol editor; and Bob Roeser, Yuma Sun circulation director.

Awards will be presented for spellers and lunch will be served to contestants and their parents directly after the spelling bee at the Yuma Art Center.

Other major sponsors of the event include Arizona Public Service, Allied Waste, Domino's Pizza and Coca-Cola.

School finalists competing:

Speller / Grade / School

Torrey Stone / 6th / Southwestern Christian School

Cody Staneart / 6th / Calvary Baptist School

Andrea Mincitar / 8th / San Luis Middle School

Kenneth "Joey" Burkart / 4th / O.C .Johnson Elementary

Ricardo Angulo / 5th / Gadsden Elementary School

Prescilla Augustin / 5th / Desert Sonora Elementary

Anahi Gaxiola / 6th / Ronald Reagan Elementary

Connie Sandoval / 8th / Centennial Middle School

Victoria Pena / 8th / Crane Middle School

Sydney Smith / 4th / Wellton Elementary School

Mathew Cary / 8th / Gila Vista Jr. High

Sergio Rodriguez / 5th / Pecan Grove Elementary

Ryan Danford / 5th / J.B. Rolle School

Tommy Medina / 4th / Palmcroft Elementary

Cherif Lo / 5th / James D. Price Elementary

Arilyn Rose Gonzalez / 7th / Woodard Jr. High School

Ashley Honey Close / 7th / Immaculate Conception School

Matthew Diaz / 8th / Fourth Avenue Jr. High School

Kimberly Vega / 5th / H.L. Suverkrup

Melody Aguilera / 6th / Somerton Middle School

Nitant Soni / 6th / Desert View Elementary School

Andrea Galindo / 3rd / Tierra Del Sol Elementary

Jake Monson / 5th / Sunrise Elementary School

Isaac Castro / 6th / Rancho Viejo Elementary

Francisco Cruz / 5th / Roosevelt Elementary School

Eduardo Soto / 7th / Southwest Jr. High School

Christine Compton / 5th / Desert Mesa Elementary School

Madigan Smith / 7th / Carpe Diem Collegiate Middle School

John White / 5th / Alice Byrne School

Megan McCullough / 8th / Castle Dome Middle School

Justin Oliveros / 7th / Ron Watson Middle School

Yazan Abdella / 5th / Desert View Academy

Brooklyn Booker / 5th / Valley Horizon Elementary

Rebekah Jameson / 5th / Mary A. Otondo Elementary

Catherine Raible / 6th / Yuma Lutheran School

Damian Luna / 4th / Ed Pastor Elementary School

Maggie Golding / 6th / Mesquite Elementary

Jasmine Perez / 5th / G.W. Carver Elementary

George Romero III / 5th / Amerischools Academy North

Yara Picasso / 5th / C.W. McGraw Elementary

Alban Ozuna / 5th / Orange Grove Elementary

Bettina Thomas / 7th / Harvest Preparatory Academy - Yuma

Sydney Young / 7th / St. Francis of Assisi School

Krista Rider / 7th / Mohawk Valley School

Itzel Melendrez / 5th / Rio Colorado Elementary

Carla Ceja / 5th / Arizona Desert Elementary School

Jacque Quintana / 8th / Dateland Elementary

Alexander Smith / 6th / Pueblo Elementary

Amilia Valenzuela / 4th / Amerischools Academy South

Elian Macias / 6th / Gary A. Knox Elementary

Aneesa Ramirez / 6th / Cesar Chavez Elementary School

Mario Rodriguez  / 6th / Harvest Preparatory Academy - San Luis

Sarah Womer can be reached at swomer@yumasun.com or 539-6858. Find her on Facebook at Facebook.com/YSSarahWomer or on Twitter at @YSSarahWomer.