Students from Umatilla and Morrow counties showed off their spelling skills in a spelling contest earlier this month.
The students participated in the contest on May 12 at Blue Mountain Community College.
The students took a written spelling test during the contest, and first through third place winners were selected in each of three divisions for each county: Division 1 (Grades 1-5), Division 2 (Grades 6-8), and Division 3 (Grades 9-12). An awards ceremony was held immediately following the completion of test scoring at the contest. Winners received gift cards and trophies. The contest was sponsored by the InterMountain Education Service District.
The first-place winner from each division will be invited to compete at the state competition, which takes place on Aug. 30 in Salem during the Oregon State Fair.
Morrow County Winners:
Division 1: First place – Serenity Rodriguez, Heppner Elementary; second place – Mary Hammond, Windy River Elementary; third place – Brittnee Ford, Irrigon Elementary.
Division 2: First place – Olivia Schmidt, Heppner Junior-Senior High; second place – Emma Reitmann, Ione Community School; third place – Fabian Mirnada-Walk, Irrigon Junior-Senior High.
Division 3: First place – Emily Holland, Ione Community School. There were no second- or third-place winners.
Umatilla County Winners:
Division 1: First place – Kamryn Aldred, Highland Hills Elementary; second place – Hope Harwood, Sherwood Elementary; third place – Edgar Cazarez, Grove Elementary.
Division 2: First place – Trey Dohman, Clara Brownell Middle School; second place – Lesly Santoyo, Armand Larive Middle School; third place – Colton Katsel, Sandstone Middle School.
Division 3: First place – Whitney Cribbs, Hermiston High School; second place – Henry Gehrke, Echo High School; third place – Brandon Gill, Ukiah High School.
