Celeste reaches the top with ‘colloquial’

 

story and photos by Joel Rafkin
[email protected]

Thirty-Eight children, the top spellers from Sebastian County elementary and junior high schools (grades 4 – 8), took to the stage Saturday (Feb. 19) at Breedlove Auditorium on the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith campus for the 27th annual county spelling bee.

Contestants were given a word at random from a list of 250-350 words selected from Merriam-Webster’s Spell It website.

A dictionary would be used to select additional words in the event that those words were exhausted, said spelling bee coordinator Carl Hill.

Dr. Joe Hardin, dean of the UAFS College of Languages and Communication, served as pronouncer for the event. He read the word for the contestants and provided, upon request, the definition, origin, alternate pronunciation and use of the word in a sentence.

A few notable exceptions at this year’s spelling bee were pointed out by Hill. Historically, the finals are dominated by girls but this year there were five boys and only one girl going into round five. Also of note were the large quantity of foreign language words accepted in the English vernacular. Some of which were: gazpacho, libretto, umlaut, origami and cedilla.

Celeste Del Rio emerged as the winner in a little more than two hours and in the 14th round after correctly spelling "colloquial."

The event was sponsored by BancorpSouth. The company awarded savings accounts to the first through third place winners in the amounts of $100, $50 and $25 respectively. Additionally, the bank funds the trophies, engraving and trip to the state spelling bee on March 12 in Little Rock.

Dr. Paul Beran, UAFS chancellor, awarded vouchers for college scholarships of $2,000, $500 and $250 to the first through third place winners. Beran said that if Del Rio finishes in the top three at the state competition, her scholarship amount will be doubled.

First Place:
Celeste Del Rio, 12, Grade 6
Howard Elementary School

Second Place:
Huy Mai, 11, Grade 6
Fairview Elementary School

Third Place:
Tyler Traylor, 11, Grade 6
Cavanaugh Elementary School