By OSWALD T. BROWN
WASHINGTON, D.C., February 3, 2020 – The stage is set for what promises to a highly competitive 23rd annual Grand Bahama District Spelling Bee competition this Thursday, February 6, beginning at 10 a.m. in the Bahamas Union of Teachers (BUT) Hall on West Atlantic Drive in downtown Freeport, Grand Bahama.
Ministry o Education District Education Officer Sheila Scavella, chairperson of the Grand Bahama District Spelling Bee Organizing Committee, confirmed that 11 students are entered this year’s competition and that the winner and first runner-up will represent the Grand Bahama District in the Bahamas National Spelling Bee finals in New Providence on May 8.
THE 11 PARTICIPANTS ARE:
- Jasmine Rolle, a 10-year-old fifth-grade student at Hugh Campbell Primary, whose coach is Mrs. Melody Dareus.
- Melia Bodie, a nine-year-old student at Walter P. Parker Primary. Her coaches are Ms. Nicole Walkin and Ms. Ruthnell Dames.
- Randy T. J. Miller II, an 11-year-old sixth-grade student at Tabernacle Baptist Academy (Primary Division). His coach is Mrs. Dorcas Vega.
- Ricardo Simmons, Jr., 12, an eighth-grade student at Tabernacle Baptist Academy (Senior Division). His coaches are Mrs. Demetrius Symonette and Miss Rocshell Rhule.
- Noelle Wilson, a nine-year-old fifth-grade student Bishop Michael Eldon School (Primary Division). Her coaches are Ms. Nodia Hanna and Ms. Simone Hutson.
- Dakota Pinder, an 11-year old seventh-grade student at Bishop Michael Eldon School (Senior Division). Her coaches are Nodia Hanna and Simone Hutson.
- Taleah Cooper, an 11-year-old sixth-grade student at Sunland Baptist Academy (Primary Division). Her coaches are Mrs. Elsie Swain and Ms. Paulette Maxwell.
- Karmelo Neely, a 13-year-old eighth-grade student at Sunland Baptist Academy (Senior Division). His coaches are Mrs. Elsie Swain and Ms. Paulette Maxwell.
- Azaria Louis, a sixth-grade student at Maurice E. Moore Primary, whose coach is Mrs. Anne Burrows.
- Abi Danae McKinney, a fifth-grade student at Freeport Gospel Chapel School. Her coach is Mr. Keanté Smith.
- Elisha Roker, a student at Sister Mary Patricia Russell Junior High School. His coach is Ms. Casssandra Munnings
“As chairperson, I wish to express my utmost gratitude to the coaches and parents who have worked tirelessly in preparing these students,” Ms. Scavella said. “The students are to be commended for their diligence and commitment. We also are extremely grateful to our sponsors who have provided prizes for the students: Bugs R- Us, Balearia, Express Mart, Bethel’s Superstore, Grand Bahama Port Authority and Modalena Group of Companies.”
The Grand Bahama District has been a force to be reckoned from the introduction the Scripps National Spelling Bee to The Bahamas’ educational system in 1998. Dominique Higgins, a 12-year-old Jordan Prince William High student, won that first year, but Grand Bahama Catholic High’s Gadareth Higgs finished a close second after engaging in a head-to-head battle with Higgins for many rounds when they were the only two remaining in the finals.
Grand Bahama District spellers, however, have captured the national title a staggering seven times: Deshae Morley, Grand Bahama Catholic High (1999-2000); Britanny Wilkinson, Freeport Anglican High (2000-2001); Denice Deveaux, Grand Bahama Catholic High (2001-2002); Joeanne Salise, St. Georges High (2003-2004); Joeanne Salise, St. Georges High (2004-2005); Anjanet Loon, Grand Bahama Catholic High (2006-2007); Anjanet Loon, Grand Bahama Catholic High (2007-2008).
The winner of the Bahamas National Spelling Bee has represented The Bahamas in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. from its inception, but thanks to an RSVBee invitation-only program introduced by the Scripps National Spelling Bee in 2018, The Bahamas was represented by three contestants in 2019, two of whom competed via RSVBee process.
BNSB 2019 Champion Roy Seligman, a 10-year-old 4th grade student at Lyford Cay International School, was joined by Yellow Elder Primary Kevin Williams Jr., who finished second, and Queen’s College student Arjun Shetty, who finished third.
If The Bahamas again sends three spellers to the Scripps Bee this year, the possibility that Yellow Elder Primary’s Kevin Williams Jr. will again be one of them looms large, given the fact that he has already advanced to the BNSB championship in March by virtue of winning the Western New Providence Primary District’s Annual Spelling Bee Competition for the second straight year when it was held in the Sybil Alyden Auditorium in New Providence on Thursday, January 23.
The 93rd Scripps National Spelling Bee will be held at the Gaylord Resort and Convention Center in Oxon Hill, Maryland, near Washington, D.C., May 24-30.
