Four students from the southern Kenai Peninsula spelled their way to thefront of the pack last week, securing their participation in the statewidespelling bee in Anchorage next month. For the second year in a row, sixth-grader Aidan Coyle will represent WestHomer Elementary School. Coyle took first place in the school spell-off themorning of Jan. 11, with the correct spelling of "peninsula." Maggie Grahamcame in second and will take Coyle's place in Anchorage if illness, ascheduling conflict or some other reason takes Coyle out of the competition.Megan Shover, a sixth-grade student, took first place in McNeil CanyonElementary School's competition. Shover's winning word was "applaud." Insecond place, Duffy Owen, a fifth-grader, will take Shover's place inAnchorage if Shover is unable to compete. Both students are in SherylSotelo's combined fifth- and sixth-grade class. Correctly spelling "candidate" gave Megan Isaac, a seventh-grader inJennifer Haugh's class at Chapman School, first place in that school'scompetition. Shy Walter, in Kimberly Johnson's third-grade class, tooksecond place and will be Isaac's alternate. At Homer Middle School, seventh-grader Nathanael Hardy, whose homeroomteacher is Margi Blanding, claimed first place at the school bee forcorrectly spelling "murmur." Nathanael has two alternates: eighth-gradersKevin Rowe and Vanessa Lind-Carlson. Their homeroom teacher is Dan Calhoun.The Alaska State Spelling Bee will be held at the Alaska Center for thePerforming Arts Feb. 15-16.
McKibben Jackinsky can be reached at the Homer News mckibben.jackinsky@homernews.com
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