The top student spellers from across Aiken County will gather on stage Thursday, February 6, at the AECOM Center for the Performing Arts with a trip to Washington, D.C. on the line.
The student earning the title of Aiken County Scripps Spelling Bee Champion will automatically earn a spot in the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
“We are so excited that our winner will have the opportunity once again to compete in the national spelling bee,” stated Christin Sosa-Gaston, who serves as an IPS Coordinator in the department of Federal Programs and as District Spelling Bee Director for Aiken County Public Schools. “These students, our top spellers, have worked very hard to be their very best and we are expecting to have a great competition. We certainly want to encourage the community to come out and support these fantastic Aiken County students.”
The twelve competitors in this year’s Aiken County Spelling bee represent students from fifth grade to eighth grade. Each student advanced to the competition after winning first place or finishing in second place in six group semifinal competitions.
This year’s competitors include the following students, representing 10 different schools:
- Jayden Avancena (Leavelle McCampbell Middle School)
- Colton Banks (Jefferson Elementary School)
- Sienna Canup (Hammond Hill Elementary School)
- Jaq-Leyah Council (J.D. Lever Elementary School)
- Luke Erskine (North Augusta Middle School)
- Lucille Heath (Langley-Bath-Clearwater Middle School)
- Rena Humes (Kennedy Middle School)
- Payton Key (Chukker Creek Elementary School)
- Peyton Owenby (Leavelle McCampbell Middle School)
- Bradley Peterson (Kennedy Middle School)
- Zaiid Stroman (New Ellenton Middle STEAM Magnet School)
- Liahona Velez (Aiken Intermediate School)
Alternates for this year’s District spelling bee will compete on stage in the absence of a competitor. Alternates include the following students:
- Aaliyah Anderson (Byrd Elementary School)
- Izabella Brower (Paul Knox Middle School)
- Preston Gillespie (Horse Creek Academy)
- Alyssa McLaurin (A.L. Corbett Middle School)
- Harley Wimberly (Ridge Spring-Monetta Middle School)
- Nicklaus Wylds (Jackson STEM Magnet Middle School)
AECOM, Savannah River Remediation, and The Aiken Standard are proud sponsors of the 2020 Aiken County Spelling Bee.
This year’s competition at the AECOM Center for the Performing Arts will begin at 7:00 p.m.
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LINK TO DISTRICT PRESS RELEASE: 2020 PR ACPSD SCRIPPS SPELLING BEE