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02/16/2006: "Spelling Bee Champion Selected"

After enduring 23 rounds of elimination, Friday Harbor Middle School seventh grader Megan Cuomo beat out 19 other spellers to receive the First Place trophy as Friday Harbor Spelling Bee Champion for 2006. Second Place was taken by Friday Harbor Middle school sixth grader Jimmy Chaffe, and Third Place was taken by Friday Harbor Elementary School fourth grader Emma Brand.

On March 25th, each school will send their school champion speller to the Scripps-Howard regional spelling bee in Mount Vernon, sponsored by the Skagit Valley Herald. Winners of that bee will advance to the National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.

This year's Friday Harbor Spelling Bee, sponsored by the Rotary Club of the San Juan Islands, was held after school on February 8th on the Main Stage of the San Juan Community Theatre. Twenty entrants from the Friday Harbor Elementary School, the Friday Harbor Middle School, and the Spring Street International School had already been selected by in-school spelling bees to represent their classes in this bee, and they showed remarkable composure as they appeared on the stage in front of a crowd of student and adult spectators and spelling bee officials.

Pronouncing was enunciated by Dr. Carolyn Haugen, Superintendent of Shaw Island School District. Spellers were judged by Lauren Stara, Director of the San Jan Island Library, and Catherine Barnhart, Chair of the English Department, Spring Street International School. Dictionary services were provided by Kate and Dori Sears. The top-secret word list and speller coaching was provided by Jack McKenna, Director of Griffin Bay School. Event coordination was provided by Mike Close, Rotary Club of the San Juan Islands.