St George’s YaChristian Roberts wins National Spelling Bee after marathon tie-breaker

After a marathon tie-breaker that saw the need for an additional list of words, which the contestants was not privy to, Ya Christian Roberts of St George’s Primary School emerged the champion of the National Primary Schools Spelling Bee today, June 1, 2022.

Roberts and Doreen Olatunji of Leonora Delville Primary were engaged in a lengthy tie-breaker, before Olatunji misspelled ‘bight’.

The winning word for Roberts was ‘asthmatic’.

Placing third was Joy Ogbonnaya of Valley Day Primary School while fourth was Orissa Thomas of St George’s Primary.

Other contestants included Collis Fraser and Antonio Ollivierre of Willard Wheatley Primary; Kay Robinson and Ja’dore Turnbull-Duggins of Althea Scatliffe Primary School; Zaveed Matthias of Alexandrina Maduro Primary School and Leeyah Samuel of Valley Day.

Apart from a trophy and other incentives from the Ministry of Education, the top two contestants were each presented with a prize by Klass Electronics.

Among those assisting with the presentation of awards was Minister for Education Hon Sharie B. deCastro (AL).

Second place winner of the 2022 National Primary Schools Spelling Bee, Doreen Olatunji, centre, of Leonora Delville Primary School. Right is Education Minister Hon Sharie B. deCastro (AL) and left is President of the Rotary Club of Road Town, Anthony Clarke.