VIRTUAL SPELLING BEE CHAMPION CROWNED
In coordination with Scripps National Spelling Bee, Frederick County Public Libraries (FCPL) held the 2021 Frederick County Spelling Bee using Scripps’ online testing platform on Saturday, March 20, 2021. Due to COVID-19 guidelines, the competition was entirely online with 14 students participating.
Spellers had a twenty-four hour time frame to complete the thirty minute test. All participants were required to take an ‘Integrity Pledge’ prior to logging into the testing platform. Seventh grader Eeshawnee Kotaru, of Oakdale Middle, won the competition with a score of 42/50. There was a tie for second place with Sir Emmanuel Ryser, West Frederick Middle School, and Kamryn Shew, Walkersville Middle School, both earning a 35/50 score.
Frederick County Spelling Bee Committee Chair and FCPL Children’s Services Supervisor of Myersville Community Library, Robin Goetz said “the committee went into this years’ competition with optimism that the bee would stay true to its purpose of offering Frederick County students a spirited and educational competition, even though it was entirely online. We understand the decision to hold the bee virtually this year, but we are looking forward to next year and getting back to an in-person bee, if possible,” said Goetz.
Winning speller Eeshawnee Kotaru now goes on for a chance to compete in the Scripps 2021 Spelling Bee, which is being held in Orlando, FL this year. The Frederick County Spelling Bee is sponsored by The Frederick News-Post, Frederick County Public Libraries, and Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS). The Bee enables FCPL to provide opportunities for competition and learning as well as helping to foster individual and community growth.
This year’s spellers include:
Coraline Townsend, Brunswick Elementary
Mishani De Silva, Crestwood Middle
Vonda Agyei Obese, Gov. Thomas Johnson Middle
Mayra Maldonado Ramirez, Hillcrest Elementary
Sarah Wolfe, Middletown Elementary
James Bowman, Middletown Middle
Elena Crutchfield, Mother Seton School
Stella Thomas, New Life Christian School
Danielle Beam, New Midway/Woodsboro Elementary
Eeshawnee Kotaru, Oakdale Middle School
Mihika Taneja, Orchard Grove Elementary
Joanna Genemans, Thurmont Middle
Kamryn Shew, Walkersville Middle
Sir Emmanuel Ryser, West Frederick Middle
To learn more about this year’s Spelling Bee, visit fcpl.org/spellingbee.
