Special to the WJH
Lydia Aikin will represent Ware County next month in the regional Spelling Bee after winning the county competition Wednesday, January 15.
Aikin, a student at Ware County Middle School, emerged from a group of eight competitors from around the county to claim the local bee. Memorial Drive Elementary student Malachi Malabanan was runner-up.
The winner survived nine rounds of spelling, finally claiming the championship by correctly spelling the words opera and disguise. Malabanan went out on the word energetic.
Each received a trophy. The regional bee will be in Savannah.
The county competition brought together winners of the bees at the system’s individual elementary and middle schools. The school bees began with an elimination at each grade level.
In addition to Aikin and Malabanan, the other county participants were: Gavin Linao from Center Elementary; Naomi Stephens from Ruskin Elementary; Destiny Adkins from Wacona Elementary; Leanna Thomas from Waresboro Elementary; Sophia Ambeka from Williams Heights Elementary; and LillyAnne Hall from Waycross Middle.
Superintendent Dr. Lynn Barber congratulated all participants on advancing to the county competition, and presented each student with a certificate of achievement and a medal to commemorate their accomplishment. Aikin and Malabanan also received trophies as the top finishers.
Ware County Superintendent Dr. Lynn Barber is flanked by county Spelling Bee runner-up Malachi Malabanan (left) and winner Lydia Aikin. The Ware County Middle School student emerged from a field of eight competitors to win after nine rounds of words. SPECIAL PHOTO
