Ronan Howlett bested 42 other students from across Vermont to win the Vermont State Individual Spelling Bee on Wednesday, March 13, 2013. Howlett, an eighth grader from Middlebury Union Middle School, and last year’ s winner, will now compete against top spellers from every other state in the nation in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, DC, in June.
The winning word was ‘ desultory,’ an adjective which means ‘ marked by absence of a plan; disconnected; jumping from one thing to another; digressing from the main subject; random.’
Emily Ballou, of South Royalton School, came in second. Nicholas Knudsen, of Frederick H Tuttle Middle School came in third.
In addition to advancing to the national spelling bee, Ronan Howlett received a trophy, an iPad and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., sponsored by FairPoint Communications, Vermont Lake Monsters, Burlington Free Press, Vermont Humanities Council, Vermont Principals Association and Vermont Agency of Education. For more information on the national bee, visit www.spellingbee.com.
Elementary and middle school students (through grade 8) under the age of 16 were eligible to participate in this competition. Students from across Vermont who participated in the bee already competed in their regional bees this winter.
Bob Johnson of the Vermont Principals’ Association introduced the event, which was held in the McCarthy Arts Center at Saint Michael’ s College. Adam Silverman of the Burlington Free Press served as pronouncer for the event. Peter Gilbert, Executive Director, Vermont Humanities Council; Mike Smith, State President, FairPoint Communications; and John Fischer, Deputy Commissioner, Vermont Agency of Education served as judges this year. Linda Wrazen of the Vermont Humanities Council and Deputy Commissioner Fischer presented the awards.
2013 Vermont State Spelling Bee Participants
Albany Community School
Autumn
Perron
Albert D Lawton Intermediate School
Isabelle
Petrucci
Barre City Elementary Middle School
Carli
Harris
Barre Town Middle Elementary School
Julia
Jaminet
Bethel Elementary School
Grace
LaFromboise
Brighton Elementary School
Colby
Worth
Camels Hump Middle School
Becket
Hill
Charlotte Central School
Abigail
Postlewaite
Christ The King School
Esa
Anderson
Crossett Brook Middle School
Harley
Miller-Rowley
Danville School
Chelsea
Carcoba
Dority Home School
Finn
Dority
Dothan Brook School
Jessica
Paterson
Edmunds Middle School
Julia
Drummond
Flood Brook Union 20 Elementary School
Corynn
Wasyliko
Frederick H Tuttle Middle School
Nicholas
Knudsen
Harwood Union Middle/high School
Erin
Magill
Lyndon Town School
Kayanna
Burns
Main Street Middle School
Asa
Richardson-Skinder
Mater Christi School
Tracy
Ferguson
Middlebury Union Middle School
Ronan
Howlett
Mill River Union High School
Emily
Bushey
Milton Elementary School
Samuel
Dooley
Mt Anthony Union Middle School
Tucker
Beaudoin
NewBrook Elementary School
Fairen
Stark
Richford Junior Senior High School
Joseph
Wills
Riverside School
Kaci
Cochran
Rutland Intermediate School
William
Latkin
Shelburne Community School
Thomas
Daley
Shrewsbury Mountain Elementary School
Olivia
Suker
South Royalton School
Emily
Ballou
St. Mary School
Colin
Dowd
Stowe Middle High School
Rosalie
Wasser
Thaddeaus Stevens School
Lucinda
Storz
Thetford Academy
Raphael
Orleck-Jetter
Thetford Elementary School
Owen
Deffner
Tunbridge Central School
Connor
Lambert
Twin Valley Middle School
Dylan
Florence
Walden School
Azariah
Thoma
Waterford Elementary School
Lindsey
Wood
Westshire Elementary School
Logan
Garr
Williston Central School
Natalie
Durieux