Press release from the Southeast Education Service Center in Price, Utah; J. J. Grant, Director
March 9, 2017, Garrett Bryner, 7th grader from Mont Harmon Middle School in Carbon School District, earned the designation as top speller after a competitive twenty-two rounds in the annual Southeast Educational Service Center Regional Spelling Bee. Garrett began the bee, correctly spelling words such as: interrupt, pretzel, diorama, embargo, matinee. Some of his other words included: anomaly, pernicious, tchotchke, galjoen, and muishond.
Second place speller Adriana Johnson, 6th grader from ARL Middle School in Blanding, and Jordan Clinger, third place, competed with Garrett through rounds 7 through 18. Jordan was eliminated when she misspelled “eitlander.” Adriana and Garret continued correctly spelling “schottische” and “muishond” but both misspelled the next round words which required them to continue on to championship round 21. After Adriana misspelled her word, Garrett correctly spelled “basilisk” but was required to correctly spell “alphanumeric” to clinch 1st place honors.
Sponsored by the Southeast Education Service Center, this year’s Region Bee was held at Grand High in Moab. Thanks to Diane Carter, Emery High School English teacher, who was this year’s pronouncer. Theresa Wilson and Johnna Boyack served as judges. The Region Bee is a preliminary competition in the Scripps National Spelling Bee held during Bee Week May 28–June 2, 2017, in Washington D.C.
As first place speller, Garrett received a 2017 United States Mint Proof Set donated by Mr. Jay Sugarman in honor of his father, a 1 year subscription to Encyclopedia Britannica Online, Merriam-Webster Unabridged Online and an all-expense paid trip for Garrett and chaperone to attend the 2017 Scripps National Spelling Bee. Second and third place spellers received a $25 gift card donated by SESC and a $25 gift card donated by Scripps. In addition, second place will also receive a Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary.
The top three District spellers, plus Pinnacle Academy, grades 4 through 8 advanced to the Region Bee from bees held in their local schools and districts earlier this year.
Spellers for Carbon District included: Jersey Wayman, 5th grade, Bruin Point, Garrett Bryner, 7th grade, Mont Harmon; and Alex Krempasky, 8th grade, Mont Harmon.
Emery District sent Becca Miller, 7th grade, Canyon View; Tyler Stilson, 7th grade, San Rafael Jr. High; and Grace Bernard, 4th grade, Ferron Elementary.
Competing from Grand District were Rowan Murdock, 8th, Diego Winn, 8th, and Evan Welch, 8th grade, all from Grand County Middle School.
San Juan District spellers were Adriana Johnson, 6th, and Jordan Clinger, 8th, from ARL Middle School, and Cedar English, 8th grade, Monticello High School.
The Pinnacle Academy participants were Sage Behling, 8th, Hadley Dunn, 8th, and Stetson Motte, 8th.
The Scripps Bee is the nation’s largest and longest-running educational promotion, administered on a not-for-profit basis by The E.W. Scripps Company and Kindle as presenting sponsor. The Bee’s purpose is to help students improve their spelling, increase their vocabularies, learn concepts, and develop correct English usage that will help them all their lives. Since 1925, children across America have participated in school, local and regional bees with the singular hope of making it to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. This year, 11 million students will join in the experience.
Contestants at the Scripps National Spelling Bee must be 8th graders younger than 15, but there is no lower age limit. It seems great spellers just keep getting younger. Last year, the youngest speller was a 6-year-old Texas boy. This year, 5-year-old Edith Fuller will be the youngest person ever to compete at the spelling bee.
Congratulations to all the Region spellers who competed and best wishes to Garrett in the National Spelling bee this year.