Lenzi Dickens, a seventh grader at DeKalb Middle School, won the 7th annual DeKalb County Spelling Bee Friday night at DeKalb County High School.
Dickens, the 12 year old daughter of Len Dickens and Mandi Sullivan of Smithville was among almost forty students from the fourth grade to the eighth grade who participated in the contest.
She correctly spelled the words “cafeteria” and “ominous”” in the 12th round to claim the championship.
Nine year old Grace Godowns, a fourth grader at Northside Elementary School, was the runner-up in the contest. She is the daughter of Kelly Godowns of Smithville.
Students from DeKalb Middle School, DeKalb West School, and Northside Elementary School recently competed at the school level to become eligible for the county competition.
Along with students from thirty nine other counties, Dickens and Godowns will compete in the Tennessean Regional Spelling Bee on March 4th at Belmont University in Nashville.
The winner of the Regional Spelling Bee will compete in the Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee in Washington D.C.
The purpose of the County Wide Spelling Bee is to help students improve spelling skills, increase vocabularies, learn concepts, and develop correct English usage that will help them all their lives.
WJLE taped the spelling bee and will air the broadcast Monday night, February 8th at 7:00 p.m.
Participants in this year’s County Wide Spelling Bee were:
Northside Elementary School:
Fourth Grade- Hannah Brown, Grace Godowns, and Hayley Martin
Fifth Grade- Erica Birmingham, Madison Bouldin, Timothy Cassinera, Katlyn Cox, Caelin Crips, Eli Cross, Madison Dickens, Hali Huang, Sara Beth LeFever, Baylee Phillips, and Taylor Spare.
DeKalb Middle School:
Sixth Grade-Chase Bryant and Kyra Trapp
Seventh Grade- Peter Antoniak, Lenzi Dickens, Matthew Foutch, Justin Johnson, Brandon Kircher, Makalee Rush, Makayla Starnes, and Jacob Washer.
Eighth Grade- Josh Davidson and Jacob Pittman
DeKalb West School:
Fourth Grade- Breanna Gibson and Danielle Theriaque
Fifth Grade- Jayra Plattenburg, Brandy Rock, and Paige Snyder
Sixth Grade- Ashley Grater
Seventh Grade- Leah Burchfield, Cason Oakley, Lydia Trail, and Bruce Wilson
Eighth Grade- Zach Bandy, and Crystal Vickers
(Bottom Photo: left to right front row- Grace Godowns and Lenzi Dickens; left to right back row- Michelle Burklow (Spelling Bee Coordinator) Mark Willoughby (Director of Schools), Charles Robinson (School Board Chairman), and Jon Fontanez (Official Pronouncer)