Life

Atkinson spellers win Bee

Atkinson Elementary School spellers defended their title in the Kiwanis Spelling Bee.

By Bill Moss, Published: May 2, 2012

A team of six Atkinson Elementary School fifth graders won the annual Kiwanis Club Spelling Bee with a perfect score of 96 points.

The Spelling Bee's reigning champs grinned as Kiwanis volunteers and family and friends snapped their team photo after the intense four-hour competition April 21 at Bo Thomas Auditorium at Blue Ridge Community College. Fifth grade teacher Kim Brown and assistant teacher Lisa Dennison, long-time coaches of the team, beamed with pride.

"Our team worked hard," Brown said. "We're very proud."

Spellers on this year's Atkinson team were Christopher Tavernier, Isabella DeFelippo, Lucy Lannigan, Hunter Pierson, Anna Yokote and Ben Beeker.

Veritas Christian Academy and Glenn C. Marlow Elementary School tied for second place with 74 points. Bruce Drysdale Elementary School's team was right on their heels, placing third with 72 points.

Atkinson's perfect score was no easy feat, noted Lynn Cordell, Kiwanis Spelling Bee moderator. Spellers competed through eight nerve-wracking rounds against nine other schools.

"Team members are aware what's at stake and take the spelling bee very seriously, " Cordell said. "Each team received a new word list this year and was very well prepared the day of the event."

Atkinson's students, who practiced after school with their teacher coaches and drilled at home with their parents, concisely spelled bonus words like 'physique' and 'adamant' without hesitation.

The five other schools competing included Upward Elementary School, which placed fourth with 66 points; Sugarloaf Elementary School, which placed fifth with 64 points; Mountain Community School, which placed sixth with 62 points an; Mills River Elementary and Hillandale Elementary schools, which tied for seventh place with 50 points and Hendersonville Christian, which placed eighth with 48 points.

Kiwanis judges included Melissa Walden, Dr. Jim Kessaris, Elizabeth Moss, Jill Geis and Art Smits. Members Darla Lindeman and Stephanie Celtrick also volunteered at the event, sponsored by Blue Ridge Community College and BoJangles Four Seasons, which donated blueberry biscuits for the spellers and coaches.

The Kiwanis Club of Hendersonville plans to make a special presentation at each of the top three winning schools before the end of the year to honor the teams.