Ramlall wins 2017 Spelling Bee Competition

Ryan Ramlall of Bregado Flax Education Centre (Secondary Division) is the winner of the Inter-Secondary Schools National Spelling Bee Competition.

Elmore Stoutt High School students Khemisha Stoutt placed second followed by Jade Allison Straker third.

Cedar International’s Aria Creque and Lekeisha Allen placed fourth and fifth respectively in the final competition held on May 10 at Sir Rupert Briercliffe Hall.

The participants competed on an individual basis, rather than by school or teams.

Each student was asked to learn a total of 5000 words to prepare for the competition.

Coordinator of the competition Heida Joyles-Selwood said the contest helps in the development of the territory’s students by increasing their ability to spell.

According to the Government Information Service, Joyles-Selwood said: “This competition allows for our students to foster camaraderie and improve social interactions, all the while showcasing their skills in literacy through spelling and pronunciation.”

The competition began on May 3.

The preliminary round saw Ryan Ramlall advancing with 45 points; followed by Jade Allison Straker of the Elmore Stoutt High School with 40 points; Aria Creque of Cedar International with 30 points, Lekeisha Allen also of Cedar International with 25 points; and Khemisha Stoutt of Elmore Stoutt High with 20 points.

Two students from the Virgin Islands School of Technical Studies, as well as one from Bregado Flax Educational Centre (Secondary) did not advance.