Rockwall County spelling champ heads to regional bee

Rockwall County spelling champ heads to regional bee
Rockwall County Dallas Morning News spelling bee
(First row, from left) Carmen Witwer, Sudeshna Pontula, Emily Miller, Riley Stewart, Sydney Yeager, Lana Rivera, Karthika Venugapalan; (second row) Giovani Copiolli, Jacob Wood, Michael Jarrett, Sarah Jackson, Gigi Hogan, Bernie Fay, Samuel Williamson, Locklen Jones, Ana Tristan, Alison Meadors.

The Dallas Morning News sponsored the Rockwall County Spelling Bee on Feb. 7, 2012. The contest was open to all students in fourth through eighth grade in Rockwall County.

Campus winners from Rockwall ISD elementary schools, middle schools and from HEAR (Home Education Associational Resources, Inc) participated in the event.

HEAR student Sudeshna Pontula was named county winner and will advance to the regional spelling bee. Michael Jarrett from Sharon Shannon Elementary earned the county alternate spot in the competition.

The 54th Annual Dallas Morning News Regional Spelling Bee will be held on March 24, 2012 at the University of Texas-Dallas campus.

The event will be televised on WFAA-TV Channel 8. The broadcast time is to be determined. The Regional Spelling Bee Champion will then advance to the National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.

Sudeshna Pontula will advance to the regional spelling bee.

“I am so proud of the students who participated in the Rockwall County Spelling Bee,” said Superintendent of Schools Jeff Bailey. “The hard work of all of the campus winners and participants has brought forth terrific students who will represent Rockwall County so well. This is a testament to their passion for learning and a proud moment for their families. I wish Sudeshna the best of luck at the regional competition.”

Additional Rockwall County contestants included Bernie Fay from Amanda Rochell Elementary, Emily Miller from Cain Middle School, Gigi Hogan from Amy Parks Elementary, Carmen Witwer from Celia Hays Elementary, Alison Meadors form Dorris A. Jones Elementary, Jacob Wood from Dorothy Smith Pullen Elementary, Samuel Williamson from Doris Cullins-Lakepointe Elementary, Sarah Jackson from Grace Hartman Elementary, Karthika Venugapalan from Herman E. Utley Middle School, Lana Rivera from Howard Dobbs Elementary, Locklen Jones from J.W. Williams Middle School, Sydney Yeager from Nebbie Williams Elementary, Giovani Copiolli from Ouida Springer Elementary, Riley Steward from Ruth Cherry Intermediate (Royce City ISD), and Ana Tristan from Virginia Reinhardt Elementary.

Story and photos submitted by Adi Bryant, Communications Coordinator, Rockwall ISD; edited for publication by Blue Ribbon News, all rights reserved.

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