Seventh-grader wins his second Mansfield ISD spelling bee

For the second year in a row, Robert Fisher is Mansfield ISD’s spelling bee champion. The Rogene Worley Middle School seventh-grader won the competition by correctly spelling the word “cauterize.”

"I’m happy and nervous at the same time about going to regionals. I really want to go to nationals,” Fisher said.  

The two-time champ studied the Scripps word list two to three hours per day to prepare for the bee. The words used in the contest are provided by Scripps, and students have an opportunity to study them.

A total of 38 competitors participated in the annual event at the Dr. Jim Vaszauskas Center for the Performing Arts. Winners from every elementary, intermediate and middle school campus bee moved on to the district competition, held Feb. 2.

New this year, both the district champion and runner-up will advance to the regional level.

“Moving on to the next part of the competition will be so exciting and terrifying,” said Cross Timbers Intermediate sixth-grader Henry Ickes, this year’s runner-up.  

“It's so much more than just spelling skills,” said Sarah McMurrough, English/language arts instructional coach for grades 3 and 4. “Our students are learning to gain confidence, maintain their emotions, and really study up for something important. It was great to see their sportsmanship and support for each other.”

This year’s bee, sponsored by the Mansfield Sunrise Rotary Club, lasted 14 rounds. School board trustees, district staff and Rotarians comprised the judges panel.

Fisher and Ickes will go on to compete at the regional spelling bee competition at Texas Christian University on March 5. The winner will represent the region in May at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.

District Spelling Bee Contestants

Alice Ponder Elementary: Klydee Bundy

Alma Martinez Intermediate: Karis Garcia

Anna May Daulton Elementary: Preston Olowookere

Annette Perry Elementary: Olamma Onyegasi

Asa Low Intermediate: Henry Scheele

Brenda Norwood Elementary: Nyckthan Nguyen

Brooks Wester Middle School/Jerry Knight STEM: Lauren Betts

Carol Holt Elementary: Paxton Nguyen

Charlene McKinzey Middle School:Kashyia Wooten

Charlotte Anderson Preparatory Academy: Austin Barnes

Cora Spencer Elementary: Aisha Adhami

Cross Timbers Intermediate: Henry Ickes

D. P. Morris Elementary: Adrian Rojo

Danny Jones Middle School: Gabriella Winston

Della Icenhower Intermediate: Oluwademilade (Demmy) Adenekan

Donna Shepard Intermediate: Jaycee Crutchfield

Elizabeth Smith Elementary: Cruz Aguilar

Erma Nash Elementary: Bora Yilmaz

Glenn Harmon Elementary: Jewel Duggins

Imogene Gideon Elementary Rachel Bui

J. L. Boren Elementary: Kourosh Khomejani

James Coble Middle School: Olivia Nguyen

Janet Brockett Elementary: Adelyn Escano

Judy Miller Elementary: Sean Dao

Kenneth Davis Elementary: Lucas Le

Linda Jobe Middle School: Elina Ung

Louise Cabaniss Elementary: Adesire Onasanya

Martha Reid Elementary: Yaseen Chowdhury

Mary Jo Sheppard Elementary: Victor Hoang

Mary Lillard Intermediate: Marcus Brimon

Mary Orr Intermediate: Salma Al Salameh

Nancy Neal Elementary: Jackson Doll

Roberta Tipps STEAM Academy: Dylan Albertson

Rogene Worley Middle School: Robert Fisher

T. A. Howard Middle School: Rekik Yeselam

Tarver-Rendon Elementary: Ace Hendon

Thelma Jones Elementary: Jocelyn Milliner

Willie Brown Academy: Rosalind Mays

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