Curry, Roosevelt spelling bees set for Friday

In the high-stakes world of spelling bees, Friday is Super Bowl time for eastern New Mexico as local elementary and middle school students compete for the title of county spelling champion in both Curry and Roosevelt counties.

The Curry County spelling bee is set for 8:30 a.m. in the Town Hall at Clovis Community College, 417 Schepps Blvd., Clovis, according to director Linda D’Amour. Retired educator Carol Nash will be calling the words.

Roosevelt County spellers are scheduled to begin competition at 1 p.m. in the Becky Sharp Auditorium in the College of Business at Eastern New Mexico University, Portales, according to Betty Williamson, who oversees that bee. Portales Public Library Director Tawna Luscombe will be the pronouncer.

Curry County spellers compete together in one division, while Roosevelt County has a junior bee for students in grades five and lower, and a senior bee for students in grades six through eight (plus with the winner of the junior bee). Only the senior bee champion is eligible for the state bee.

County champions advance to the 2020 New Mexico State Spelling Bee scheduled for March 21 in Albuquerque.

Because of school numbers, Curry County may send two delegates on to state, and Roosevelt may send one.

These spellers qualified to try their luck at the county level by placing first or second at school spelling bees.

Participants in the 2020 Curry County spelling bee include:

• Skylar Ashley, Barry Elementary School

• Funto Akinmurele, Clovis Christian School

• Paola Alvarado, La Casita Elementary School

• Chibudom Anaele, Zia Elementary School

• Lane Bowman, Melrose Public Schools

• Evan Brunson, Mesa Elementary School

• Olivia Forni, Lockwood Elementary School

• Isaiah Garcia, Marshall Middle School

• Danexy Gatica, James Bickley Elementary School

• Kaileigh Glick, Barry Elementary School

• Aspen Goddard, Highland Elementary School

• Naia Gonzales, Texico Municipal Schools

• Greeley Goodson, Texico Municipal Schools

• Jordan Gomez, Yucca Middle School

• Braeden Hughes, Clovis Christian School

• Molly Kidd, Mesa Elementary School

• Porter Kidd, Gattis Middle School

• Kevin Lopez, La Casita Elementary School

• Garrett Love, Sandia Elementary School

• Celia Martinez, Melrose Public Schools

• Michelle Masanai, Zia Elementary School

• Christopher Oaks, Yucca Middle School

• Jordyn Parrish, Sandia Elementary School

• Michael Richardson, Parkview Elementary School

• Joaquin Sanchez, Gattis Middle School

• Jayden Thanimith, James Bickley Elementary School

• Saniya Whitaker, Lockwood Elementary School

• Genesis Wiggins, Marshall Middle School

• Mikaela Woznick, Highland Elementary School

• Kaylee Wright, Parkview Elementary School

Contestants in the junior division of the Roosevelt County spelling bee include:

• Roxana Allamehzadeh, Lindsey Steiner Elementary School

• Lillie Bustamante, Floyd Municipal Schools

• Addison Dominguez, Dora Consolidated Schools

• Ray Duarte, Floyd Municipal Schools

• William Gay, Valencia Elementary School

• Cesar Guerra, Valencia Elementary School

• Anna Oglesby, Lindsey Steiner Elementary School

• Amaya Williams-Combs, Dora Consolidated Schools

Contestants in the senior division of the Roosevelt County spelling bee include:

• Benjamin Arrendondo, Floyd Municipal Schools

• Promise Duolo, Lindsey Steiner Elementary School

• Julianna Garcia, Floyd Municipal Schools

• Katelynn Hatch, Lindsey Steiner Elementary School

• Tristin Howl, Portales Junior High School

• Kateah Hulett, Portales Junior High School

• Cole Kircher, Dora Consolidated Schools

• Landri Thomas, Dora Consolidated Schools

For more information on the Curry County spelling bee, contact D’Amour at 575-762-7004. Questions about the Roosevelt County bee may be directed to Williamson at 575-607-5053.