I love to spell. I’m the person people come to and say, ‘How do you spell this word?’”Linda DeGroot
CULLMAN – The Cullman County Commission on Aging held its Senior Spelling Bee on Thursday, April 21 at the Cullman Senior Center. Linda DeGroot took the top spot.
“I won second place in sixth grade,” chuckled DeGroot. “I was hoping I wouldn’t have to spell the word ‘commission’ today; I still don’t remember how many m’s and s’s are in the word.”
The event was for Cullman County residents 50 and older.
“Today’s spelling bee was very impressive,” said Dusty Baker, director of the Cullman County Commission on Aging. “It is amazing to see what our seniors are capable of. I couldn’t spell but about five of the words out of all the words they spelled today.”
The day began with six spellers, all anxious to win. When the competition narrowed down to the final three, the contest took on a more competitive tone. When the last two participants were left, things got serious!
“Last year’s spelling bee lasted about 25 to maybe 30 minutes; this year it went on for an hour and a half,” Baker laughed. “We’ve got a vision here at the Commission on Aging- we would like to have someone from Cullman to win the National Spelling Bee. Today’s spelling bee was the qualifier for the National Spelling Bee,” he smiled.
For nearly an hour, the last two spellers went back and forth, back and forth, spelling words most of the audience had never even heard of. The tension was thick and everyone watched the showdown with great anticipation. Finally, after a total of 101 words were spelled, the winners were revealed!
DeGroot took first place, Jack Bray second place and Paula Hoover third place.
“I love to spell,” DeGroot said. “I’m the person people come to and say, ‘How do you spell this word?’ I have a friend who will call me up and say ‘I can’t spell the word enough to look it up online’.”
This year’s Senior Spelling Bee was definitely full of suspense, and at times, comedy. It was lengthy and the contestants were getting tired, but in the end, someone had to win first place.
DeGroot will now go on to compete in the National Senior Spelling Bee in Knoxville, Tennessee on Saturday, July 9, 2016.
Today’s first-place winner received $100, a trophy and an all-expenses-paid trip to the National Spelling Bee; second place received $50 and a trophy and third place received $25 and a trophy.
