ROTARACT CLUB OF ANTIGUA

The lass overcame four other students in nearly two hours and equal rounds of intense competition at the Precision Center on Saturday.

 

Finishing second was Silicia King from Grace Christian Academy Primary School.

 

Kareel Simon from T. N. Kirnon Primary School finished third while St. Michael’s Primary School's Danelle Doorgen and Five Islands Primary School's Norissa Ryan tied in fourth place.

This year’s Rotaract Bee featured students from over 20 private and public schools from across the country and included for the first time Barbuda.

 

At the commencement of the final competition Rotaract President Daydre Daley congratulated the 20 participants labeling them "spellebrities” of their schools and local communities.
 

She encouraged the bunch to “read and spell everything” as “It (certainly) adds to the development of your minds and expands your wisdom and appreciation for life and success.”
 

The St. John’s Catholic student took home a laptop computer, a printer and one year of Internet service courtesy LIME.

 

For the honour of second place, Grace Christian Silicia King was awarded with a Kindle Fire, a Scotia Bank Junior Savings account credited with EC$1,000 and matching trophy.

 

TN Kirnon Karell Simon received an EC$500 credited Scotia Bank Junior Savings account and EC$500 worth of school supplies with matching trophy.
 

There was no shortage of support for the contestants as hundreds of enthusiasts came out in their numbers to support the competing schools. At one particular point during the intermission period of the last day of competition, a group of TN Kirnon supporters pledged allegiance to the school in the middle of the Precision Centre Hall; chanting its alma mater song in unison while raising the school flag.
 

According to figures however, the school with the most die-hard supporters – those who came out to the competitions, rain, or shine over the three weeks in abundance – was St. John Catholic, who received EC$300 worth of school supplies for consistency in this regard.

Further, the winning school - St. John’s Catholic - will benefit from a school compound facelift valued at EC$2500. The package includes lunch benches courtesy the Eastern Caribbean Amalgamated Bank (ECAB) and umbrellas courtesy of LIME and more.

Members of the Rotaract Club will perform the facelift operation on December 8 during the club’s 26^th Charter Anniversary Week.
 

All participants also received a free goodie bag with school supplies from Seven Seas, Scotia Bank and ECAB at the end of the overall competition.
 

The Rotaract Club of Antigua organized the event in conjunction with title sponsor Seven Seas, which is also funded by Queen Bee sponsors, ECAB, LIME and Scotia Bank sponsor the spelling event. Carpenter Bees Ovaltine and Ribena joined with newcomers such as the Observer Media Group (OMG) and the Antigua & Barbuda Broadcasting Services (ABS).
 

Club President Daydre Daley said, “This is an event we look forward to every year. The ability of these students is amazing and the Bee celebrates a unique kind of academic talent.  I’m so glad we have the opportunity to highlight and reward academic study this way.”
 

The Rotaract Spelling Bee competition promotes literacy and helps students improve their spelling and vocabulary skills. Spellers are challenged to think under pressure and experience being in the spotlight.