The top student spellers from across Aiken County will gather on stage tonight, February 4, at the AECOM Center for the Performing Arts with a trip to Washington, D.C. on the line.
The student earning the title of Aiken County Scripps Spelling Bee Champion will automatically earn a spot in the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
“We know our winner will have the opportunity to compete once again in the national spelling bee and that’s very exciting,” stated Christin Sosa-Gaston, who serves as an IPS Coordinator in the department of Federal Programs and as District Spelling Bee Director for Aiken County Public Schools. “Our students and top spellers have dedicated themselves to being their best on Monday and we expect it to be a great competition. We certainly want to encourage the community to come out and support these fantastic Aiken County students.”
The twelve competitors in this year’s Aiken County Spelling Bee represent students from fifth grade to eighth grade.
This year’s competitors include the following students, representing 11 different schools:
- Joanna Brown (Schofield Middle School)
- Bella Burton (Jefferson Elementary School)
- Serenity Hilton (East Aiken School of the Arts)
- Gina Hofstetter (Aiken Elementary School)
- Rena Humes (Kennedy Middle School)
- Alex Kikendall (Aiken Middle School)
- Drew Pond (Paul Knox Middle School)
- India Perez (New Ellenton Middle STEAM Magnet School)
- Gianna Rando (Horse Creek Academy)
- Peyton Stevens (Belvedere Elementary)
- Liahona Velez (J.D. Lever Elementary School)
- Yolanda Ward (New Ellenton Middle STEAM Magnet School)
Alternates for this year’s District spelling bee, who will compete on stage in the absence of a competitor, include the following students:
- Jayden Avancena (Leavelle McCampbell Middle School)
- Allie Harm (Chukker Creek Elementary School)
- Caden Jenkins (J.D. Lever Elementary School)
- Joseph Marshall (North Augusta Elementary School)
- Reina Mendez (Langley-Bath-Clearwater Middle School)
- Erik Stier-Delgadillo (Millbrook Elementary School)
AECOM, Savannah River Remediation, and The Aiken Standard are proud sponsors of the 2019 Aiken County Spelling Bee.
Monday’s competition at the AECOM Center for the Performing Arts will begin at 7:00 p.m.
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LINK TO DISTRICT PRESS RELEASE: 2019 PR AIKEN COUNTY SPELLING BE PREVIEW