Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
MENTONE - In the end, it was a gem of a spelling bee win for a Washington Elementary sixth-grader.
Kristin Allen won the elementary bee Monday by correctly spelling "sapphire." Runner-up was Henry Robinson, a sixth-grader from Jefferson Elementary.
For her win, Allen received a trophy and a $2,500 Richard R. Long Scholarship. She will compete Thursday against the middle school winner.
Twenty elementary students competed at Mentone Elementary Monday, spelling such words as "cognate," "sluggard," "agronomy," "slaver" and "diamagnetic."
By round nine, only Allen and Robinson were left.
Allen was given "extant" and misspelled it, and Robinson spelled it correctly.
He was given "rubella" and misspelled it, and Allen spelled it correctly.
She then spelled the final word, "sapphire," accurately, taking the title.
Tonight at 7 p.m. at Wawasee Middle School, seventh- and eighth-graders will compete for the middle school championship. Thursday, again at 7 p.m. at WMS, elementary and middle school champions will vie for the county championship.
The Kosciusko County Spelling Champion will compete in Fort Wayne March 12.
Coordinator for Monday's bee was Brett Boggs, principal of Akron Elementary. Judges were Shally Bales, Jack Fisher and Lucy Gaff. Pronouncer was Priscilla Burdge.
The Richard R. Long Scholarship is sponsored by the Homer Shoop Foundation and the International Palace of Sports.
