He won't be spelling g-r-a-d-u-a-t-i-o-n at National Spelling Bee
May 30, 2005 11:00 pm
WASHINGTON - Ronnie Cowsert's name will be announced Wednesday at his fifth-grade graduation. But he won't be there to accept his diploma.
Instead, Ronnie will be competing at the 78th Annual Scripps National Spelling Bee.
“I was really upset and mad,” said Ronnie, 10, about missing his fifth-grade graduation. “I wanted to be there.”
While he's at the spelling bee, Ronnie will also miss his first boy-girl school dance.
“He is very upset, but Washington will be worth it. He just doesn't know it yet,” said Peggy Cowsert, Ronnie's mother.
The Scripps National Spelling Bee is held here every year. This year, 273 students will compete in written and oral rounds for cash and other prizes.
This is Ronnie's first year at the event, and his biggest concern is the large audience.
“I am afraid that I will get up there in front of that many people and mess up,” said Ronnie, who attends Morningside Elementary School in Port Saint Lucie, Fla. “I am kind of scared.”
However, Ronnie is trying to put his fears aside and focus on winning. He said he has printed words from the Internet and read the Greek origin dictionary. He noted that the words might be “harder” at the national competition.
“The words were very easy last time,” Ronnie said of the local bee.
He said he plays baseball and soccer with his 8-year-old brother, Justin. His dream is to become a professional football player.
Spellers take a written test Wednesday morning. Next, all 273 entrants compete in the first oral round. After those two rounds, many of the spellers will be eliminated, based on a score combining the first two rounds.
Those who remain compete in two more oral rounds Wednesday afternoon, in which a misspelled word eliminates the speller. ESPN will broadcast Thursday's competition, with a winner expected by late afternoon.
First prize is $22,000, a $5,000 scholarship, a savings bond and a reference library.
Last year, Ronnie won the spelling competition at his elementary school but finished eighth at the county bee.
“Regardless of the results, he will still be a winner,” said Keith W. Davis, 36, assistant principal at Ronnie's school. “He is a wonderful kid with a very calm demeanor.”
He said other students have been quizzing Ronnie by randomly asking him to spell words as he walks down the halls.
“He walks around and spells things all the time,” Davis said. “We are looking to rally behind and pull him through this and I'll tell you this, it couldn't have happened to a better kid.”
WASHINGTON - Ronnie Cowsert's name will be announced Wednesday at his fifth-grade graduation. But he won't be there to accept his diploma.Instead, Ronnie will be competing at the 78th Annual Scripps National Spelling Bee.
“I was really upset and mad,” said Ronnie, 10, about missing his fifth-grade graduation. “I wanted to be there.”
While he's at the spelling bee, Ronnie will also miss his first boy-girl school dance.
“He is very upset, but Washington will be worth it. He just doesn't know it yet,” said Peggy Cowsert, Ronnie's mother.
The Scripps National Spelling Bee is held here every year. This year, 273 students will compete in written and oral rounds for cash and other prizes.
This is Ronnie's first year at the event, and his biggest concern is the large audience.
“I am afraid that I will get up there in front of that many people and mess up,” said Ronnie, who attends Morningside Elementary School in Port Saint Lucie, Fla. “I am kind of scared.”
However, Ronnie is trying to put his fears aside and focus on winning. He said he has printed words from the Internet and read the Greek origin dictionary. He noted that the words might be “harder” at the national competition.
“The words were very easy last time,” Ronnie said of the local bee.
He said he plays baseball and soccer with his 8-year-old brother, Justin. His dream is to become a professional football player.
Spellers take a written test Wednesday morning. Next, all 273 entrants compete in the first oral round. After those two rounds, many of the spellers will be eliminated, based on a score combining the first two rounds.
Those who remain compete in two more oral rounds Wednesday afternoon, in which a misspelled word eliminates the speller. ESPN will broadcast Thursday's competition, with a winner expected by late afternoon.
First prize is $22,000, a $5,000 scholarship, a savings bond and a reference library.
Last year, Ronnie won the spelling competition at his elementary school but finished eighth at the county bee.
“Regardless of the results, he will still be a winner,” said Keith W. Davis, 36, assistant principal at Ronnie's school. “He is a wonderful kid with a very calm demeanor.”
He said other students have been quizzing Ronnie by randomly asking him to spell words as he walks down the halls.
“He walks around and spells things all the time,” Davis said. “We are looking to rally behind and pull him through this and I'll tell you this, it couldn't have happened to a better kid.”
