For several months, San Benito students had been preparing for the district’s annual Spelling Bee. They studied and practiced spelling words such as guffaw (verb – laugh noisily or coarsely), jettison (verb – drop from an airplane in flight), and quotidian (adjective – commonplace, ordinary).
Sponsored by the San Benito CISD Department of Curriculum and Instruction, the traditional Spelling Bee provides elementary and middle school students with an opportunity to learn new words, sharpen their spelling and vocabulary skills, and vie for the title of the school district’s top speller.
San Benito students having participated in the 2015 Spelling Bee were the following:
Angela G. Leal Elementary
Jose Cantu
Misael Garay
Dr. C.M. Cash Elementary
Diana Perla Leija
Lindsey Rubi Montemayor
Ruben Rey Reza
Dr. Raul Garza, Jr. Elementary
Alejandro Baldelamar
Ashley Michelle Padron
Julian Sanchez
Ed Downs Elementary
Carlos Cordova
Emylee Cruz
Mauricio Padilla
Frank Roberts Elementary
Elijah Araiza
Jaime Santana
Jadah Vasquez
Fred Booth Elementary
Junae Gonzalez
Carolina Guerrero
Valeria Muñiz
Judge Oscar De La Fuente Elementary
Cassie Hernandez
Solanii Jasso
Israel Valdes
La Encantada Elementary
Edgar Flores
German Tamez
La Paloma Elementary
Giovanny Pesina
Kathy Rojas
Landrum Elementary
Alyssa Garcia
Randy Lozoya
Christopher Ramirez
Rangerville Elementary
Aurelia Garcia
Aralyn Peralez
Jessenia Serrata
Sullivan Elementary
Elise Escobedo
Iviannah Lara
Melanie Lopez
Berta Cabaza Middle School
Patsy Alejandro
Katelyn Garza
Eddie Jimenez
Miller Jordan Middle School
William Corkill
Adrian Garcia
Luis Gonzalez
San Benito Riverside Middle School
Delila Bailey
Kenneth Bailey
Jacklin Cantu
Connie Cruz, this year’s Spelling Bee Coordinator and the school district’s Director of Elementary Curriculum, proudly attributes the success of the event to the contestants, their coaches, their parents, school administrators, and everyone involved in the planning and implementation of the competition.
“We greatly appreciate absolutely everyone’s dedication, time, and effort. A successful event requires teamwork, and we have a great team,” stressed Cruz.
This year’s competition came to an end when Luis Santiago Gonzalez spelled the word cummerbund (noun – a waistband worn in place of a vest with men’s dress clothes), earning him the first place honor for the second consecutive year. Second place was awarded to Ruben Rey Reza of Dr. C.M. Cash Elementary, and Lindsey Rubi Montemayor of Dr. C.M. Cash Elementary received third place.
Gonzalez will now represent San Benito CISD at the 27th Annual Rio Grande Valley Regional Spelling Bee, slated for Saturday, March 7, 2015, at South Texas College in Weslaco.
Shown alongside San Benito CISD Superintendent of Schools Dr. Marc A. Puig are top spellers in the 2015 Spelling Bee competition: (l-r) third place winner Lindsey Rubi Montemayor, Dr. C.M. Cash Elementary; first place winner Luis Santiago Gonzalez, Miller Jordan Middle School; and second place winner Ruben Rey Reza, Dr. C.M. Cash Elementary.