Judges pose with top three finalists at Words with Friends (L-R): Bob Plasse, George Delisle, third place finisher Aida Nagle, first place, Nathaniel Smith, second place Amy Mokan, Emcee Adam Wright and Amanda Brodkin.(WESTFIELD STATE UNIVERSITY PHOTO)
WESTFIELD – Fifteen fifth grade students, the top spellers in the Words with Friends classroom competition at Westfield Intermediate School, competed for the top prize on Devers Stage at Westfield State University on Feb. 5.
“What a special night! The encouragement students gave one another during this tense competition was an incredible example to all,” said Volunteers in Public Schools (VIPS) Coordinator Tina Macy about the event. VIPS coordinated the competition, which lasted an hour and fifteen minutes, and was sponsored by the University’s Circle K Club and the Kiwanis Club.
At the end of the evening, first place winner was Nathaniel Smith; second place went to Amy Mokan; and third place to Aida Nagle. The trophy will be engraved with Smith’s name, and reside in his teacher Danielle Scherban’s homeroom for the year.
Westfield Intermediate School Principal Katherine Bourque said that this class of students had competed last year as fourth graders from the individual elementary schools, although the winners were not necessarily the same students. Due to redistricting, they had kept the competition in the elementary schools for one year. From this point forward, the competition will be among fifth graders, as it had been previously.
Bourque said she was proud of the sportsmanship of all the students, who high-fived each other on the way to the microphone when the students spelled their words correctly. “Nathaniel was a big part of that,” Bourque said.
“Overall, it was my first time being part of the spelling bee. I was very pleased with the effort and the supportive nature of the event. It was really evident that they had been studying,” Bourque added.
“Congratulations to all the competitors who bravely put their skills to the test in front of a large audience,” Macy said.
