Submitted by Lincoln County
The 2018 Lincoln County Spelling Bee was held on February 21, 2018, in the Troy High School Auditorium in Troy, Montana. There were 24 participants from 4th through 8th grades representing their schools in Lincoln County. Milynn Lucey, a 7th grader from Eureka Middle School, won the Spelling Bee in the eighth round by correctly spelling the words “gazelle” and “Flemish”. Second place went to Adeline Roesler-Begalke, an 8th grader from Troy Junior High.
Various schools from Lincoln County were represented by their top spellers. Julian Koehn, a 7th grader, came from McCormick-Sylvanite Elementary. Libby Elementary was represented by 4th graders Brody Christiansen and Cole Petty, 5th graders Ryan Beagle and Morgan Hayes, and 6th graders Aroura Behee and Talan Glenn-Woody. Libby Middle School was represented by 7th graders Dylan Buckner and Noah Carr and 8th graders Maellen Nelson and Kaylin Siefke. Aaron Thomas, a 5th grader, was the speller for Kootenai Valley Christian School. Eureka Elementary School was represented by 6th graders Franka Striefler and Michael Watters. Eureka Middle School was represented by 7th grader Milynn Lucey and 8th grader Rowan Kenney. Morrison Elementary School was represented by 5th graders Barocko Garcia and Bella O’Day and 6th grader Marcus Hermes. Troy Junior High was represented by 7th grader Winter Sedler and 8th grader Adeline Roesler-Begalke. Trego Elementary was represented by 7th grader Colyn Johnson and Fortine School was represented by 6th grader Elizabeth Hardy and 7th grader Benjamin Cooke.
Nancy Trotter Higgins, Lincoln County Superintendent of Schools, served as Master of Ceremonies and presented the awards. Librarian Kay Randall served as this years host and pronouncer, providing definitions and correct pronunciation. The judges were Gear Up Coordinator Jordan Graves, After School Program Coordinator Jenn Higgins, and Americorps VISTA Member Haley Spurlin. Keith Haggerty and Scott Hoffman, along with the THS student workers assisted by setting up the sound system and stage. A special thank you to Kay Randall, Troy Schools Librarian, for all the work she put into this year’s County Spelling Bee, from serving as site coordinator to managing the set-up, serving as the pronouncer, as well as reading the rules and introduction to the spellers.
As first place winner, Milynn Lucey was awarded a $50 gift card and a Lincoln County Spelling Bee Champion plaque. Second place speller Adeline Roesler-Begalke received a $25 gift card and a Lincoln County Spelling Bee Runner Up plaque. The Lincoln County Superintendent’s office provides the student who attends the State Bee with a $200 check to help with travel expenses. Milynn Lucey will represent Lincoln County at the State Spelling Bee in Billings on March 17.
Congratulations to all the 2018 County Spelling Bee Participants!