Dobos crowned spelling champ

Eighth grader Tara Dobos took home the Orcas all-school championship spelling bee title for the second year running. The winning word was electioneer.

Dobos, who is pictured at left, will go on to the Skagit Regional Spelling Bee. If she advances past that, she will participate in the nationals in Washington, D.C.

The participating spellers from Orcas Elementary were fourth graders Flora Lister and Landon Carter, fifth graders Maya Heikkenen and Ian Maier, sixth graders Benjamin Pollard and Sabrina Bailey, seventh graders Liam Griskey-Watson and Kellen Maier, eighth graders Christian Bailey and Olivia Smith.

Students from Orcas Christian School included fourth grader Zoe Miller, fifth grader Logan Babcock, sixth grader Evie Hance, seventh grader Skyler Gregg and eighth grader Stephanie Harris.

OASIS alternative learning participants were Dobos, fourth grader Evalie Smith and eighth grader Josiah Rutledge, who traveled all the way from Lakewood for the event.

The fourth annual bee was held on Jan. 18 in the Orcas Christian School gym. After several rounds of no eliminations, it was apparent the words were a bit too easy, so judges Colleen O'Brien, Nita Couchman, Steve Diepenbrock upped the ante. Finally, it was down to Dobos, Gregg, Harris, Heikkinen and Smith.

Then it was a nail biter to the end between Dobos and Smith, with last year's winner eventually taking the crown once again.

Contact Islands Sounder Publisher, Editor Colleen Armstrong at editor@islandssounder.com or 1-360-376-4500.

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