Baldachin spells winner for Eriean Jang at the Spelling Bee

Baldachin is the winning word in this year’s spelling bee. The spelling of that most difficult word and rarely used word propelled a student from Dangriga as this year’s top speller while a student from Caledonia in the Corozal District placed second. The reserve list of words is becoming even more complicated for the top spellers; but today Eriean Jang, spelt the word correctly even though she did not know that it is canopy of state over an altar or throne. News Five’s Duane Moody reports. 

Duane Moody, Reporting

Baldachin…that was the final word that determined the winner for the Grand Final of the Coca-Cola National Spelling Bee 2013. Twelve students, two representing schools from each district, battled today with the spelling of words from a reserved list  following months of zone competitions. And after four hours of mind-boggling words, 2013 top speller was Eriean Jang of Sacred Heart R.C. School in Dangriga.

Duane Moody

“Did you know that word?”

Eriean Jang

Eriean Jang, 2013 National Spelling Bee Champ

“No.”

Duane Moody

“How did you come up with the spelling for it?”

Eriean Jang

“That was the first thought that I had but I never spelt it until the second time because I wasn’t sure.”

Duane Moody

“How does it feel to have represented your school and done so well?”

Eriean Jang

“I feel really honored and feel good.”

Duane Moody

“Tell us about the hard that you put into it.”

Eriean Jang

“Every day I had to study and sometimes they have to take me out of class so I can study. And before I came I studied as well.”

Reporter

“Was there ever a time when it got hard and you just wanted to quit?”

Eriean Jang

“Yes ma’am.”

Reporter

“And what made you continue?”

Eriean Jang

“Because when I looked in the crowd I saw my teachers, my classmates and everyone else and so I knew I had to start and get it back again. I feel great and a little relief because I won’t have to study anymore.”

Taking second place was Britney Rosalez of Caledonia R.C. School from the Corozal District. She was overwhelmed because she did not know that she would have gotten this far in the competition.

Britney Rosalez

Britney Rosalez, 2^nd Place Winner, 2013 National Spelling Bee

“I’m… (crying) I’m very happy.”

Duane Moody

“Did you think you were going to do this well?”

Britney Rosalez

“No.”

Duane Moody

“How does it feel to be representing your school and doing so well?”

Britney Rosalez

“It feels very well. I’m very glad I won second place. I never thought I would do it. I give thanks to my coaches, to my friends, to my parents who helped me.”

Duane Moody

“How much work did it take to do something like this?”

Britney Rosalez

“So much. Months of studying.”

Reporter

“What did your friends tell you when you came off the stage?”

Britney Rosalez

“They just hugged me and congratulated me. I like to give thanks to them to have helped me.”

It is the nineteenth edition of the Spelling Bee competition and Coca Cola Brand Coordinator, Tamara Minto, says that the level of passion from the spellers has increased over the years.

Tamara Minto, Coca Cola Brand Cordinator, Bowen & Bowen Ltd.

Tamara Minto

“This has been a year of preparations from last year to this year and we have already started preparing for next year. These twelve kids are incredible. I see everybody is so emotional—not everybody can be a winner, but the caliber of spellers that we have in Belize has far increased in level. I can actually say that we are on a level scripts and maybe Howard. That’s saying the words that these kids are spelling is at that high of a level.  Bowen and Bowen and Coca Cola with the spelling bee is iconic; it is unbroken nineteen years as the commentator said and as Michael Bowen also said. Coca Cola and Bowen and Bowen looks at the spelling bee and spells passion as Coca Cola and we see the level of passion that these students have from all over.”

And as the choice of words has been harder, the prizes have improved.

Tamara Minto

“We have had the great support of the ministry of education and they have offered four years of scholarships for the winner. We have from laptops to desktops for the schools. We have books, we have dictionaries so the prizes are endless. And of course Bowen and Bowen, we also have contributed to prizes, cash for tuition and so forth.”

And for those bright minds who may want to go into next year’s competition, Rosalez had an advice for them…

Britney Rosalez

“Just keep on studying because like me, I never thought I would do it and they can too.”

Caledonia R.C. School also took top spot for the Duane Moody for News Five.