Milbank Middle School Student, Veronica Fonder, Qualifies for State Spelling Bee Competition
Milbank Middle School Student, Veronica Fonder,
Qualifies for State Spelling Bee Competition
Veronica Fonder, Milbank Middle School eighth grader, has qualified for the state Scripps National Spelling Bee competition Saturday, March 6. She was the top speller in the northeast regional competition conducted in late January.
Fonder was one of four Milbank Middle School students qualifying for the regional competition. Also competing were Jessel Stengel and Gemma Street, eighth graders, and Keira Steffen, seventh grader.
The local competition, conducted in December, featured approximately 200 students in sixth through eighth grade. The field was reduced to 27 students who participated in a final writing competition to find the top four spellers.
This year, the Scripps National Spelling Bee developed an online testing platform for schools that allowed the hosting of the regional spelling bees to be safe and secure via virtual exams. The online competition required the completion of spelling and vocabulary tests.
The state competition may also include online tests in lieu of an in-person spelling bee event. The specific details for the final state bee will be determined in mid-February.
The winner of the state competition is then given the opportunity to advance to the finals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, DC, in the spring. Expenses are paid for a total of four, including the state spelling representative, to travel, stay, and participate in Washington.
