Elizabeth Grace Smith, an eighth-grader at Crookston High School, won the annual Crookston District Spelling Bee and will advance to the Regional Spelling Bee in Thief River Falls on February 3.
Smith said she enjoyed the Spelling Bee. “It was pretty fun,” said Smith. “I got to see some of my friends. I’m a distance learner, so I don’t really get to see people, but it was really good to see a lot of friends and have some friendly competition.”
Smith spelled six words correctly to win the Spelling Bee. “The one that I won on was hurtle,” said Smith. “And I got scallion, sheathed, indecipherable, runes, and semicolon.”
Smith also said she’s looking forward to the Regional Spelling Bee, “I’m a little nervous, but I hope it will be fun.”
The other contestants in the District Spelling Bee were fifth-graders Abigail Bruley and Elijah Hensrud; sixth-graders Allysen Wagner and Paisley Crawford; seventh-graders Bailee Klinnert and Tristan Lundquist, who won the District Spelling Bee and advanced through Regionals to the state competition last year; and the final contestant was eighth-grader Ella Lanctot.
Watch the Spelling Bee HERE
