Bee Begins Next Week

Elementary and middle school students are studying and practicing in preparation for next week's countywide spelling bee.

The first session, Tuesday, will be at 7 p.m. and will feature elementary students. The second bee, Wednesday, will be for middle school students, and Thursday's competition will be elementary versus middle school. All of the spelling bees will take place in Lakeview Middle School's auditorium.

This year's spelling bee is being coordinated by Charles Sauders, Silver Lake Elementary principal.

Contestants will be winners of their individual schools' contests. They are listed here with their runners-up:

Elementary schools:

Akron Elementary - Adriann Negreros, first place; ShaNell Brazo, alternate, both fifth-graders.

Atwood Elementary - Gail Goon, fifth grade, first place; Trenton Porter, sixth grade, alternate.

Burket Elementary - Chelsea Ridenour, first place; Dane Gohring, alternate, both in fifth grade.

Claypool Elementary - Terry Kreft II, first place; Cassandra Hall, alternate, both in sixth grade.

Eisenhower Elementary - Kristina Cripe, first place; Erica Ridderman, alternate, both sixth-graders.

Harrison Elementary - Tanner Humphrey, first place; Max Coyle, alternate, both in sixth grade.

Jefferson Elementary - Megan Hanson, sixth grade, first place; Nathaniel West, fifth grade, alternate.

Leesburg Elementary - Leah Hawkins, first place; Ashlee Miller, alternate, both sixth-graders.

Lincoln Elementary - Marlenne Devia, fifth grade, first place; Kelsey Nicholson, sixth grade, alternate.

Madison Elementary - Jessica Hermosillo, fifth grade, first place; Nathaniel Daughenbaugh, sixth grade, alternate.

Mentone Elementary - Eden Shewman, first place; Jordan Littlejohn, alternate, both fifth-graders.

Milford Elementary - Hannah Rozow, first place; Alyssa Brown, alternate, both in fifth grade.

North Webster Elementary - Monika Elion, first place; Samuel Perez, alternate, both fifth-graders.

Pierceton Elementary - Claire Truman, first place; Victoria Loe, alternate, both in fifth grade.

Redeemer Lutheran - Elizabeth Tinkey, first place; Jennifer Tinkey, alternate, both sixth-graders.

Sacred Heart - David Blakemore, sixth grade, first place; Michael Mannan, fifth grade, alternate.

Silver Lake Elementary - Kayley Dotson, sixth grade, first place; Caleb McDonough, fifth grade, alternate.

South Whitley Elementary - Tyler Kunce, first place; Calla Ramey, alternate, both in fifth grade.

Syracuse Elementary - Holly Kolberg, first place; Jacob Davis, alternate, both fifth-graders.

Triton Elementary - Alexis Howard, first place; Jessica Calvert, alternate, both in sixth grade.

Washington Elementary - Caitie Simpson, sixth grade, first place; Chase Spangle, fifth grade, alternate.

Middle schools:

Edgewood Middle School - Bryce Durgin, first place; Kayla Durcholz, alternate, both in eighth grade.

HELPS - Stephanie Henning, first place; Peter Running, alternate, both in seventh grade.

Lakeland Christian Academy - Justin Hodorek, first place; Matthew Christy, alternate, both seventh-graders.

Lakeview Middle School - Tamanna Ranadive, seventh grade, first place; Amber Kuhn, eighth grade, alternate.

Milford School - Glen McLaughlin, first place; Elizabeth Olson, alternate, both in eighth grade.

Tippecanoe Valley Middle School - Robert Bitting, seventh grade, first place; Tony Landry, eighth grade, alternate.

Wawasee Middle School - Paige Geer, sixth grade, first place; Haiden Morgan, seventh grade, alternate.

Whitko Middle School - Joshua Walls, eighth grade, first place; Tom Winget, seventh place, alternate.