Love Creek’s Declan Durand wins regional spelling bee
Declan Durand, a 10-year-old fifth-grader at Love Creek Elementary School, was the winner of the first Sussex County Libraries Regional Spelling Bee and will be heading to Washington, D.C., to take part in the annual Scripps National Spelling Bee.
The winning word at the regional spelling bee, held at Sussex Academy in Georgetown April 1, was elegant.
This year marks the inaugural year for Sussex County Libraries as an official Scripps National Spelling Bee regional partner. Nineteen elementary school students from the area made it to the regional finals, with seven rounds needed to crown a winner.
The 2023 Scripps National Spelling Bee semifinals are set for Wednesday, May 31, with the finals slated for Thursday, June 1.
Courtney Harrigan, licensed speech language pathologist and president of Speech at the Beach, served as pronouncer for the competition. Judges – tasked with tracking every word and verifying spelling accuracy – were Sussex County Librarian Rachel Lynch, Sussex County Council President Michael H. Vincent, and educator and award-winning children’s author Dr. Ilona Holland. Spellers studied a 4,000-word list provided by the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
“Libraries are a perfect sponsor for a regional bee,” said Lynch. “We provide educational support and opportunities before, during and after school age. Spelling bees not only encourage proficiency in literacy skills, but also provide experience in healthy competition and overcoming the No. 1 fear of public speaking. These students did a fantastic job and should be commended. We can’t wait to see them back next year.”
The competition encourages the exploration of words and lifelong curiosity, with a focus on helping students set goals, and dedicate time to study and prepare. Participation in the bee program also provides an opportunity for students to gain experience in public speaking and poise under pressure.
To learn more about the Scripps National Spelling Bee, go to www.spellingbee.com.
