1st Annual Area-Wide Spelling Bee A Success

RICHARDSON, TEX. – The first annual Texas Conference sponsored Dallas/Fort Worth Area-Wide Spelling Bee was held Nov. 15, 2023, at Burleson Adventist Academy (BAA). Southwestern Adventist University (SWAU) joined the fun, presenting a SWAU scholarship for each winner.

The spelling bee winners included elementary school level: 1) Daniel Ortega (Fort Worth Adventist Junior Academy), 2) Charlotte Griswell (Keene Adventist Elementary School) and 3) Nathaniel Unite (Keene Adventist Elementary School); junior high level: 1) Mia Johnson (Keene Adventist Elementary School), 2) Lelard Montoya (Dallas Christian Academy) and 3) Isaac Murray (Fort Worth Adventist Junior Academy) and high school level: 1) Niko Chou (Burton Adventist Academy), 2) Sajni Smith (North Dallas Adventist Academy) and 3) Adam Nogueira (North Dallas Adventist Academy).

“I was so impressed with the organization of this event by the BAA staff,” Texas Conference Vice President for Education Kisha Norris exclaimed. “Seeing all the parents and school staff supporting these students, watching students review their words during the break and hearing the commentators. It made it such a fun and special day for these students. We look forward to doing it again.”

Jacelin Cadet, BAA vice principal, and Aaron Long, BAA director of recruitment and development, presented the idea to Norris, who enthusiastically supported their vision. “We have wonderful Bible programs, athletics and music. It was nice to see this addition that supported academics,” Norris stated. “Hopefully, other schools will contact BAA to see what they did to emulate it. They set a high bar.”

“Those students were impressive,” Texas Conference President Elton DeMoraes added. “Some of those words I would not even know how to pronounce, let alone spell. Thank you to the parents and teachers who worked with the students to study for this event, to the BAA staff for hosting and organizing this event, to SWAU for the scholarships awarded to the winners and to our own Texas Conference education staff for the tireless work they do to help our schools be successful. Together As One, we can make an eternal difference for our young people.”

You can enjoy the live stream replays at BurtonAcademy.org/bee23.

By Tamara Michalenko Terry
Associate Director for Communication & Public Relations
Photos by Teymi Townsend