The Central Consolidated School District is immensely proud to announce the exceptional winners of its recent Navajo Nation Northern Agency spelling bee competitions. Our talented students showcased remarkable dedication and skill, navigating challenging words and demonstrating incredible poise under pressure. This year’s champions, representing various grade levels, have not only achieved personal success but will also be representing our district in the Final Navajo Nation Spelling Bee in Crownpoint, NM. Join us in celebrating these bright young minds!
Eighth Grade Champion: Ethan Stevenson, Kirtland Middle School
Ethan Stevenson from Kirtland Middle School won the eighth-grade spelling bee after a tense competition, with frequent exchanges that lasted 22 minutes between him and the runner-up. He recalled, "I kept on thinking he [Runner-up] was going to win when he got the championship words, but I guess in the end I won, so that was pretty nice. I wasn't really expecting to win.” This marked a successful return to spelling bees for Ethan, whose only previous experience was in "the first grade". His motivation to participate again was to "see if I could do a bit better than I did last time.” Ethan’s preparation involved "printing out some of the “Bee” words and I had my parents help me practice some of them at home". Looking ahead to the Navajo Nation spelling bee, Ethan admitted to mixed feelings. "It's definitely a bit nerve-wracking, thinking about going to state... going into this spelling be, I didn't want to lose because that's not winning but also didn't want to win because I was scared of going to state. So it's kind of just bit scary going to finals, but I'm happy to have the opportunity to go there though.” Congratulations, Ethan!
The Central Consolidated School District congratulates Marie, Kiera, Natalie, Bennett, and Ethan on their outstanding achievements and wishes Marie, Kiera, Bennett, and Ethan the best of luck as they represent our district in future competitions. Their hard work, dedication, and impressive spelling skills make us all incredibly proud!
Seventh Grade Champion: Bennett Weber, Tse Bit Ai Middle School
Bennett Weber from Tse Bit Ai Middle School secured the top spot in the seventh-grade spelling bee and has his sights set on future success. Expressing his excitement, Bennett said, "I'm so glad I get to go to Crownpoint for the [Final] Navajo Nation spelling bee and I hope I do well there". His ambition doesn't stop there, as he hopes to "win the title" and even go to "nationals.” Bennett’s dedication to studying was evident in his statement: "After school, I did a lot of studying with my teacher and then also a lot of studying by myself.” He also acknowledged the support of "my after-school teacher that helped me with the words, Mrs. Chiong. I also want to thank my family for supporting me". Congratulations on your well-deserved win, Bennett!
Fourth Grade Champion: Marie Multine, Newcomb Elementary School
Marie Multine from Newcomb Elementary School triumphed in the fourth-grade spelling bee through diligent preparation. Marie shared her winning strategy: "I had to practice every night, about like 10 words every night. On the weekends, I studied the whole day and I wrote out the word like five times in a row. Every day.” Reflecting on her victory, Marie expressed simply feeling grateful and happy to move on into the final spelling bee. Her dedication and the support of her family clearly paid off, and we congratulate Marie on her achievement.
Sixth Grade Champion: Kiera Oliver, Judy Nelson Elementary School
Kiera Oliver from Judy Nelson Elementary School emerged as the champion for the sixth grade. Kiera described the intense competition, stating it was "pretty intense". Interestingly, her preparation was unconventional. Despite minimal preparation, Kiera’s natural talent shone through. When asked about her feelings after winning, she responded with a touch of nervous excitement waiting for the finals to come. Congratulations, Kiera!
Sixth Grade Third Place: Natalie Dona, Tse Bit Ai Middle School
We also proudly acknowledge Natalie Dona from Tse Bit Ai Middle School for her impressive third-place finish in the highly competitive sixth-grade spelling bee. Her achievement speaks volumes about her hard work and spelling prowess. Congratulations, Natalie!