STAPLES-After careful review of video footage from the March 2 Lakes Bee, National Joint Powers Alliance named Forestview Middle School eighth-grader Meryl Tigenoah and Staples-Motley eighth-grader Rose Han co-champions of the regional spelling bee.
Both Tigenoah and Han will represent Region Five at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., May 28-June 2. NJPA will cover all costs for the week for both spellers and one parent/guardian each.
Carol Jackson, NJPA administrative specialist, Lakes Bee coordinator since 2009, said there was a lot of confusion at the end of the 2017 event, and felt it was important to go back and review.
Jackson and Kassidy Rice, NJPA education solutions manager, reviewed footage and the Scripps National Spelling Bee's Rules for Local Spelling Bees, and determined the process for final rounds was not properly followed.
"When it was down to the final two students, Rose began as the first speller at each round, and somewhere along the way, Meryl became the first to spell at the start of a new round," Jackson said. "Because of the mix-up, the word order was incorrect and potentially could have affected the outcome.
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"And so, we're going to fully sponsor the co-champions."
The NJPA's mission includes valuing relationships, integrity, and exceeding expectations. Jackson and Rice feel this result stays true to that.
