As if Shelton sixth-grader Andrew Lam weren’t under enough pressure as a spelling bee finalist, the last word he had to spell was, alas, pressure.
He did so, and won this year’s spelling bee at the Perry Hill School.
The Shelton Education Endowment Fund (a nonprofit fund of the Valley Community Foundation) and the Perry Hill School sponsored the school’s third annual spelling bee Wednesday (April 8) in a cafetorium packed with parents, siblings, teachers, and retired teachers.
There were 24 participants. The school houses grades 5 and 6.
Andrew said his mother helped him study the words. His parents, Amy and Xen Lam, were beaming after the event.
“I’m so proud of him, more because he used to be a very shy boy,” Amy Lam said.
She said she was pleased that Andrew’s teachers “have encouraged him to speak up.” Xen Lam said his son loves to read.
First runner-up was fifth-grader Ashley Jacob, who said the first time she had been part of a spelling bee was in her classroom, and she won.
“The spelling bee is becoming one of our favorite traditions,” said Perry Hill Principal Lorraine Williams.
Perry Hill Spelling Bee winners. Congratulations. #ct126 pic.twitter.com/Gk7Wg4Ba58
— Lorraine Williams (@lwilliamsphs) April 8, 2015She said participating in a spelling bee allows students to take part in competition, learn to trace origins of words, enhance their memories, and gain confidence in public speaking. It also increases their vocabulary.
Williams thanked the sponsors who donated money for cash prizes. They included Standard Oil, Goodman Insurance, and several retired teachers.
First prize was $100; second, $75; third, $50; fourth and fifth, $25 and Andrew’s homeroom also will receive $100.
Superintendent of Schools Freeman Burr congratulated the participants on a job well done, since they all had previously won spelling bees, first in their individual classrooms and later among teams to be eligible for the final bee.
Patriotic music was performed by soloists Connor Jensen, Dakota Kosiorek, Jeremie Moretti, and Robert Quevedo.
At the conclusion of the spelling bee Williams expressed her pride in the students.
