The district Spelling Bee has produced three district champions who will move forward to the Yamhill Regional Spelling Bee on April 11.
Winners include (from left) Tom Scholer, fifth grade, Memorial Elementary; Scott Winkenweder, seventh grade, Duniway Middle School; and Jason Kiff, senior, McMinnville High School.
The contest started at the classroom level in district schools and moved to school championships. The top three placers from each school moved to the district championships and competed through 25 words and two tie-breaker rounds. The elementary division had to go through three tie-breakers to determine the third placer winner.
According to district bee coordinator Cameron Gallop, this year’s tricky words for elementary were “celestial” and “katydid.” Words that tripped up the middle school contestants were “lieutenant” and “recuperate.”
The top scorer in each division was crowned district champion.
Congratulations, spellers!