CROWNPOINT, N.M. - Ethan Stevenson from Kirtland Middle School and Bennett Weber from Tse Bit Ai Middle School were among the top spellers at the Navajo Times-Office of Diné Youth Final Regional Spelling Bee on March 20. Ethan's strong performance as runner-up and Bennett's top-five finish highlight the dedication and challenges faced by the participants.
Ethan Stevenson’s runner-up finish demonstrated remarkable resilience throughout the competition. Reflecting on the initial vocabulary test, he admitted, "I was really nervous during the competition. I didn’t even know if I was going to make it past the vocabulary test, so I feel good about winning runner-up." He also shared his preparation routine, noting, "My mom just helped me practice every night for around 30 minutes." Despite his modest preparation, Ethan was surprised by his success, stating, "I definitely wasn't expecting to get this far that I wasn't even going to make it past the vocabulary test." Looking ahead, Ethan expressed enthusiasm for future competitions.
Bennett Weber also showcased his spelling prowess, making it to the top five. Although he was aiming to win and compete in nationals, the spelling bee's strict rules led to Bennett's elimination after a small error in spelling his first-round word. "I don't know. My mind I guess just got boggled and I just spelled the word wrong." Preparing for a high-stakes event required significant commitment from Bennett. "I mean, preparing was hard," Bennett shared. Despite not reaching the top three, he expressed a sense of accomplishment, saying, "It's pretty nice. I gotten first [in the Northern Agency Bee], but I'll take top five because that's what I'm getting." Bennett also expressed high hopes to compete next year to win the Final Navajo Nation Spelling Bee.
The participation of Ethan and Bennett, along with the other spellers, underscores the hard work and dedication of young students in academic pursuits. Their experiences, from the nervousness of the vocabulary test to the intensity of the oral rounds, reflect the challenges and rewards of participating in the Navajo Times-Office of Diné Youth Final Regional Spelling Bee.