‘Macadamia’ propels HMK student to second consecutive spelling bee win
by Jeff Richards
contributing writer
Feb 21, 2013 | 289 views | 0 0 comments | 0 0 recommendations | email to a friend | print
Grand County School District spelling bee winners (from left): Teddy Park (first place), Mary Kimmerle (second place), and Kevin Park (third place). Photo courtesy of Charlotte Quigley
Grand County School District spelling bee winners (from left): Teddy Park (first place), Mary Kimmerle (second place), and Kevin Park (third place). Photo courtesy of Charlotte Quigley
slideshow
After a grueling 38 rounds of action, Teddy Park was able to repeat as Grand County School District’s spelling bee champion.

At the district spelling bee held at Helen M. Knight Intermediate School on Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 19, Park, outlasted 17 other challengers, including fellow sixth-grader Mary Kimmerle, who finished in second place after missing the word “prodigal” in the 37th round.

Following Kimmerle’s misspelled word, Park correctly spelled “influenza” to win the round. He then had to spell one more word correctly to earn the first-place trophy. That word was “macadamia,” as in the tasty Australian nut. Park got it right, thereby ending one of the longest local spelling bee competitions any of the judges or observers could remember, according to HMK teacher Charlotte Quigley.

The contest’s 18 participants consisted of the top six finalists in each of the school’s three highest grades (four through six), after qualifying class-level spelling bees were held last month, Quigley said.

Finishing in third place overall was Kevin Park, Teddy’s twin brother. Kevin Park, who finished second to his brother last year, missed the word “restaurant” in the 23rd round this time, leaving Kimmerle and Teddy Park to go head-to-head for 14 more intense rounds.

According to Quigley, the various words spelled correctly by Teddy Park or Kimmerle during the last portion of the contest included “sentient,” “persistent,” “societal,” “apostate,” and “salubrious.”

The event was attended by the competitors’ classmates and teachers, as well as numerous family members and friends. Peggy Harty served as the event’s pronouncer, while Beth Joseph and Annie Larsen were the judges. 

The top three HMK spellers will advance to compete at the regional spelling bee, which will be held at Grand County High School on Tuesday, March 19, at 1 p.m.

The regional bee will feature the top spellers from schools throughout southeastern Utah. The winner of that event will advance to the National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., at the end of May.
Share This Article |
similar stories

HMK students show creativity at science fair | 23 days ago

Shealby Lay named HMK Student of the Month for March | 9 days ago

Recycling matters... | 16 days ago

GCHS boys tennis team loses three at home; region tournament begins May 5 | 16 days ago by Mary Rice
contributing writer

Grand’s Quiz Bowl teams finish out season on top | 23 days ago by Jeff Richards
Contributing Writer

report abuse...

Express yourself:

We're glad to give readers a forum to express their points of view on issues important to this community. That forum is the “Letters to the Editor.” Letters to the editor may be submitted directly to The Times-Independent through this link and will be published in the print edition of the newspaper. All letters must be the original work of the letter writer – form letters will not be accepted. All letters must include the actual first and last name of the letter writer, the writer’s address, city and state and telephone number. Anonymous letters will not be accepted.

Letters may not exceed 400 words in length, must be regarding issues of general interest to the community, and may not include personal attacks, offensive language, ethnic or racial slurs, or attacks on personal or religious beliefs. Letters should focus on a single issue. Letters that proselytize or focus on theological debates will not be published. During political campaigns, The Times-Independent will not publish letters supporting or opposing any local candidate. Thank you letters are generally not accepted for publication unless the letter has a public purpose. Thank you letters dealing with private matters that compliment or complain about a business or individual will not be published. Nor will letters listing the names of individuals and/or businesses that supported a cause or event. Thank you letters about good Samaritan acts will be considered at the discretion of the newspaper.