New Kent School System’s spelling bee

By Alan Chamberlain | January 31, 2013 11:40 am

Fourth grader Kiersten Fuller (above) listens for her next word during last Thursday’s New Kent Schools’ spelling bee. Kiersten correctly spelled “perfectionism” and “authoritative” to advance to the regional round in Richmond, thus ending a 21-round marathon, 15 of those rounds against fifth grader Benjamin Ward, the runner-up. Below, Kiersten receives her prizes, a certificate and a dictionary, from Ross Miller, schools’ instructional technology/testing/accountability director, who called the words. Judges were Nate Collins, DeDreama Harrod, and Katie Tanner.

Alan Chamberlain photos

Grade level champions from George Watkins Elementary, New Kent Elementary, and New Kent Middle competed in the bee. From left are Bryce Hall (Grade 5 GWES), Ryan Cannon (Grade 3 GWES), Benjamin Ward (Grade 5 NKES), Natalie Miller (Grade 7 NKMS), Sophia Adkins (Grade 3 NKES), Emma Lawson (Grade 4 GWES), Kiersten Fuller (Grade 4 NKES), Jason Whitlow (Grade 8 NKMS), and Noah Potter (Grade 6 NKMS).