They came, they spelled, and they conquered some of the toughest words in the dictionary.

For the third consecutive year, UT Dallas hosted the Dallas County Spelling Bees.  Students from private and public schools competed separately for the top spots in their respective contests. 

Shanna Druffner from All Saints Catholic School took first place in the private school competition on Feb. 7. Sadiq Shaikh from Brighter Horizons School was awarded second.

Raul Hinojosa

Raul Hinojosa

Kendall Powers from Lake Highlands Junior High won the public school competition on Feb. 9. Varenya Shrikant, a Town Center Elementary student, was runner-up.

“Hosting the Dallas County Spelling Bees is an excellent opportunity for Dallas County Schools and UT Dallas to recognize these academically talented and impressive students who have bright futures ahead of them,” said Raul Hinojosa, director of community engagement. “We know their experience at the University for this competition is a memorable one.”

“Each year, the competition is tough and the final rounds are often heart-wrenching for both the audience and spellers alike. The drama of this academic competition is just as memorable as any great athletic event that I’ve ever seen.”

The top two students from each competition advance to the Regional Spelling Bee, where they will compete with other kids from 38 North and East Texas counties on March 24, 2012.

The winner of the regional competition will compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. The bee is the nation’s largest and longest-running educational promotion, administered by the E.W. Scripps Co. and sponsors.

The Dallas County bees have been sponsored by Dallas County Schools for more than 25 years.


Sadiq Shaikh and Shanna Druffner

Shanna Druffner from All Saints Catholic School took first place in the private school competition. Sadiq Shaikh from Brighter Horizons School was awarded second.

 

Kendall Powers

Kendall Powers from Lake Highlands Jr. High won the public school competition.