After the last word was spelled correctly during a tense competition, Washington School sixth-grader Quinn Hensley probably found the results assuasive as he captured top honors in the elementary division of the Santa Barbara County Spelling Bee on Thursday at the county Education Office. Quinn has now won the contest for three straight years.
Monte Vista School sixth-grader Ameet Braganza likely felt an amalgamation of emotions after taking second-place honors. Third place went to Jason Mally, a Hope School sixth-grader who seemed to bask in the congeniality of the event.
In the secondary division, Goleta Valley Junior High eighth-grader Daniel Gay likely felt the contest was paradisiacal as he took top honors.
Brenna Hensley, a La Colina Junior High eighth-grader, felt no need for abnegation after winning second place. Third place went to La Cumbre Junior High eighth-grader Joseph Spicer, who spelled terran.
The two top winners in each division will proceed to the state level. The 2009 State Junior High Spelling Bee will be held May 9 at Miller Creek Middle School in San Rafael. The 2009 Elementary State Spelling Bee will be held May 16 at Sonoma State University in Rohnert Park.
Rose Koller is with the Santa Barbara County Education Office.