'B-e-e' champions: Top spellers to compete in countywide contest
Students from school districts across town will be competing for the title of spelling bee c-h-a-m-p-i-o-n on Wednesday as part of the 66th 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.
The 52 students competing this year range from third- to eighth-graders from public, private and charter schools in the local 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.
“It's so exciting when they realize that they have the word right and it's just as exciting to see it when they realize they don't,” she said. “We're anticipating that all students will get through the first round and we'd like them all to be a winner but we know that can't happen. We just want to wish them all good luck.”
Phillips explained that because last year's winner, Pamela Pircaro, 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.
Award plaques will be presented for all 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, Virgil Todd from Domino's Pizza and James Craig from Pepsi.
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.
Speller Grade School
Juan Juarez 5 Rio Colorado Elementary
China Tuttle 6 Calvary Baptist School
Prescilla Augustin 4 Desert Sonora Elementary
David Amavisca 4 OC Johnson Elementary
Alicia Damian 6 Amerischools Academy South
Jordan Sheldahl 8 Woodard Jr. High School
Alexis Dabbs 8 Ron Watson Middle School
Micaela Merryman 6 Pueblo Elementary
Carlos Corral-Williams 5 Gadsden Elementary School
Jillian Kravitz 5 Alice Byrne Elementary
Bineetha Aluri 8 Carpe Diem
Cherif Lo 4 James D. Price Elementary
Victoria Pena 7 Crane Middle School
Jasmine Perez 4 G.W. Carver Elementary
Carlos Vazquez 6 Desert View Academy
Noelle Racadio 5 Palmcroft Elementary
Taegan Woods 8 Castle Dome Middle School
Esteban Cervantes 6 Ed Pastor Elementary School
Edgardo Castro Ibarra 6 Gary A. Knox Elementary
Kelsey Berger 6 Valley Horizon Elementary
Autumn McIntosh 4 Amerischools Academy North
Lily Cong 5 Ronald Reagan Elementary
Victor Campos 5 Pecan Grove Elementary
Henson Smith 5 James B. Rolle Elementary
Nevaeh Lugo 4 Gwyneth Ham Elementary
Jack Schmidgall 7 Gila Vista Jr. High
Elizabeth Olmos 8 Mohawk Valley School
Kimberly Vega 4 H.L. Suverkrup Elementary
Rebecca Rose Gill 8 Centennial Middle School
Luis Rodriguez 4 Desert View Elementary
Stephan “Tai” Meade 3 Sunrise Elementary School
Cinthya Perez 6 Somerton Middle School
Denise Reyna 4 Orange Grove Elementary
Carla Camarillo 6 Rancho Viejo Elementary
Leilani Wesley 5 Tierra Del Sol Elementary
Ven Chavez 5 St. Francis of Assisi School
Sarah Molina 6 Harvest Preparatory Academy Yuma
Eddie Soto 6 Cesar Chavez Elementary
Christopher Page 5 Desert Mesa Elementary
Chase Wiles 8 Yuma Lutheran School
Jack Curtis 7 Southwestern Christian School
Maggie Golding 5 Mesquite Elementary School
Alec Villegas 8 Southwest Jr. High School
Alessia Garcia 8 San Luis Middle School
Anthony Jimenez 5 Roosevelt Elementary School
Brandon Jaime 6 Wellton Elementary School
Daniel Barraza 6 Arizona Desert Elementary School
McKenna Wallen 6 C.W. McGraw Elementary School
Aiden Cockburn 4 Mary A. Otondo Elementary
Samuel Leal 8 Fourth Avenue Jr. High
Salma Osuna 8 Immaculate Conception School
Diana Armenta-Lopez 8 Dateland Elementary School
