The Colquitt County Association of Educators (CCAE) held the annual Spelling Bee for students from the Colquitt County School District on Friday, January 26, 2024, at Southern Regional Technical College. School-level winners from each elementary school, G.E.A.R, Charlie A. Gray Junior High, and Willie J. Williams Middle School participated in the Bee.
After nine rounds, the district winner was Shayla Giang, a Willie J. Williams Middle School seventh-grade student. She correctly spelled “enumerated” and “complementary” in the final round. Johnny Marshall, a Doerun Elementary School fifth-grade student, was the runner-up. Shayla will now compete at the regional competition on February 24, 2024.
The judges for the Bee were Stacy Jones, Lisa Lawson, and Ian Smith. Other officials assisting included Sterling Brantley, Miley Rigsby, and Stacey Davenport. Brenda Arnold, an ELA teacher from Willie J. Williams, serves as the District Spelling Bee Coordinator. Allen Edwards was the caller/pronouncer for the Bee.
Superintendent Ben Wiggins and Assistant Superintendent Dr. Marni Kirkland recognized each school winner and runner-up with a certificate and pin.
School Winners
Makenzie Pina, Cox Elementary
Johnny Marshall, Doerun Elementary
Kenzie Roberts, Funston Elementary
Macie Taylor, GEAR Center
Kingston Johnson, C.A. Gray Junior High School
Dylin Cook, Hamilton Elementary
Ethan Googe, Norman Park Elementary
Madalyn Villeda, Odom Elementary (school winner two years in a row)
Chloe Hole, Okapilco Elementary
Bryson Green, Stringfellow Elementary
Keilyn Shiver, Sunset Elementary
Shayla Giang, Willie J. Williams Middle
Clark Deloach, R.B. Wright Elementary
School Alternates
Da’Quan Gerren, Cox Elementary
Cavion Washington, Doerun Elementary
Jadi Partain, Funston Elementary
Taylor Hiers, GEAR
Cameron Hall, C.A. Gray Junior High
Lam-anh Nguyen, Hamilton Elementary
Brayden McFarland, Norman Park Elementary
Raeleigh Ferrell, Odom Elementary
Tremaya Scott, Okapilco Elementary
Emily Tomas, Stringfellow Elementary
Kavien Lampkin, Sunset Elementary
Zikahrye White, Willie J. Williams Middle
Sadie Laurel Cato, R.B. Wright Elementary
Special thanks to CBS44 and the Moultrie Observer for covering the Spelling Bee. For their coverage of the event, please visit the links below:
https://www.southgatv.com/winner-announced-in-2024-colquitt-co-district-spelling-bee/