“Vespertine†will be a word to remember for first-time spelling bee champion Lumi Kim.
Describing something that occurs in or relates to the evening, the word helped the Lux Middle School sixth grader to victory in the 35th annual Lincoln Public Schools Oral Spelling Bee on Saturday.
This was Lumi’s first time qualifying for the bee.
“I did want to win this, so I prepared,†she said. “But I kind of prepared a bit late.â€
Lumi’s mother, Panya Kim, said she was elated.
“We just wanted her to have an experience in competition,†she said. “Now she’s in first place; I’m so happy.â€
Panya Kim said the win would be a surprise for Lumi’s sister and father, who were unable to attend the spelling bee.
Fifteen LPS students in grades 6-8 competed at Culler Middle School. Words such as “corpulent,†“indefatigable†and “promethean†were presented.
Lindsey Parrott, a seventh grader from Irving Middle School, was the runner-up. She was in a spell-off against fellow Irving seventh grader Libby Wilson for second after both misspelled their first words in the fifth round.
Wilson finished third at last year’s spelling bee.
LPS employees volunteered for and judged the competition. The event was sponsored by the Lincoln Journal Star and hosted by LPS secondary ELA curriculum specialist Sara Danielson.
Don Mayhew, president of the Lincoln Board of Education, spoke to the contestants before the competition, encouraging them no matter the result.
“Everybody in the building is very proud of you.â€
Photos: Lincoln Public Schools hosts 35th annual spelling bee
Lindsey Parrott (left) and Lumi Kim show the certificates after placing second and first, respectively, in the annual Lincoln Public Schools Oral Spelling Bee on Saturday at Culler Middle School. The spelling bee has been an LPS tradition for more than 30 years.