School of the Incarnation seventh-grader Isabelle Simmons outlasted 30 other champion spellers today to win the 26th annual Anne Arundel County Spelling Bee and earn a trip to the national competition later this year.
Isabelle correctly spelled the word “infinitesimal” in the 12th round to win the title. Campbell Jones of Severna Park Middle School finished second in the bee, and four spellers – Alyssa Hall of Annapolis Area Christian Middle School, Eelaaf Zahid of Annapolis Middle School, Becca Hewitt of Arundel Middle School, and Madison Williams of George Fox Middle School – tied for third.
The bee is a partnership of Anne Arundel County Public Schools and the 21st Century Education Foundation. This year’s Event Sponsor was the Josephine B. Scheffenacker Education Trust. Champion Sponsors were Capital-Gazette Communications, Educational Systems Federal Credit Union, and SHW Group LLP. Awards Sponsors were Clear Edge IT Solutions, LLC, and Daly Computers. The Round Sponsor was Hair Cuttery.
Isabelle, whose sister, Olivia, won the 2012 county spelling bee and finished second last year, will represent Anne Arundel County at the 2014 Scripps National Spelling Bee in May. The Scripps National Spelling Bee is a not-for-profit educational promotion sponsored by the E.W. Scripps Company in conjunction with businesses and community organizations around the world. Each sponsor organizes a spelling bee program in its community with the cooperation of area public, private, charter, parochial, and homeschool official.
All of today’s spellers received a prize bag that contains assorted gift items, a commemorative poster, a certificate, and a $25 gift card from the 21st Century Education Foundation. The top three finishers each received trophies and additional cash prizes.
Isabelle also won a one-year subscription to the Britannica Online for Kids, Webster’s Third New International Dictionary and a Samuel Louis Sugarman Award certificate and savings bond donated by Jay Sugarman in honor of his father, a lifelong advocate of education.
Campbell also received a Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary donated by Merriam-Webster.