THE DAYS of nail-biting competition are here again, as 14 competitors, seven boys and seven girls from schools across the island, enter the final stage of the National Spelling Bee Competition. Today, the curtain rises on the 43rd staging of the Gleaner-Children's Own-sponsored event.
Who will emerge national winner?
Finalists will gather with their teachers and Spelling Bee organisers at the Hilton Kingston Hotel this morning. They will tackle the comprehension and dictation exercises from which they will gain a trophy and points towards the spell-down tomorrow. The spell-down begins tomorrow morning at 9 and will be aired live on both national television stations -- TVJ and CVM.
Indications are that the battle for the top spot will be a closely contested one, as all participants are eager and well prepared to take the spotlight. Some students began preparations as early as last June for the competition which began in November, 2001.
The Gleaner-Children's Own Spelling Bee Competition has become one of the most anticipated events on the school calendar of activities.
The success of Jody-Anne Maxwell, the first Jamaican to have won the international Scripps Howard Spelling Bee Competition, is the goal of many of these young spellers. Between May 29 and 30, 2002, when the 75th staging of the international spelling bee will be held in the United States, a Jamaican, the winner of the Gleaner's competition, will be there to participate. Air Jamaica, as a silver sponsor, provides first class air tickets for the group.
In 1998, Jody-Anne became the first non-American to take the top prize in the 71-year history of the prestigious Spelling Bee Competition. Jody-Anne spelt the word C-H-I-A-R-O-S-C-U-R-I-S-T (an artist who works in lights and darks) and took a rich haul of prizes home.
The Spelling Bee competition encourages participants and other students to improve their word power abilities. Students learn time management and studying skills which they can then apply to other academic endeavours. Excelling in this area also has the effect of raising their self-esteem.
The list of prizes to be won has multiplied over the years, as more and more contributors come on board to identify themselves with what is now a popular national event.
