For Alexia Morton, the past two years in countywide spelling bees were practice rounds. Tuesday, she took home the top prize, as the winner of the 2011 Columbus-Lowndes County Spelling Bee.
“I knew I could win,” said Alexia, a seventh-grader at West Lowndes Middle School. “I feel like I”ve achieved something new.”
Alexia”s parents are Donald and Bobbie Morton.
Alexia and Christian Donoho went round after round, correctly spelling henna, foyer, apricot, guitar and talc, before Alexia was declared the winner, correctly spelling her final two words — interrupt and karate.
More than 40 students, up to eighth grade, from public, private and parochial schools in Columbus and Lowndes County competed in the 2011 spelling bee.
Half the competition was ousted in the first round with words including toxicosis, peripheral, legalese and feral, while other students breezed through spelling decaffeinate, euphonious, polypeptide and sabotage.
By Round 3, only eight spellers remained, but competition was stiff; all eight spellers proceeded to Round 4 after spelling such words as crochet and biopsy. For Round 6, only Alexia and Christian remained.
“I think it”s wonderful,” Christian said of his second-place win. “I never would have thought I”d make it that far.”
Christian is a seventh-grader at Annunciation Catholic School and the son of Curtis and Shaine Donoho of New Hope.
Like Alexia, Christian was no stranger to the countywide spelling bee. He solidified a spot in the contest in the fifth grade but lost in the first round. In Alexia”s past countywide spelling bees, she also lost in the first round. Both made strong comebacks this year.
“I”ve always been a good speller and good with words,” said Alexia.
“I”m an OK speller,” Christian said, attributing his success to Annunciation, where he has attended since kindergarten.
“I”m blessed to go to the school,” he said. “It”s probably 90 percent of the reason I won.”
Alexia will go on to the Mid-South Spelling Bee in Memphis, Tenn., next month.
Until then, she”ll be enjoying the fruits of her local victory.
In addition to a trophy, Alexia was awarded two checks, both in the amount of $100, from the Columbus Bankers Association and the Columbus Exchange Club, a $25 gift card to Books-A-Million and a gift basket from Success Makers Associates grant-writing and consulting firm.
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