For several months, San Benito students had been preparing for the annual Spelling Bee by practicing spelling words such as winnow (select, prepare, sift) and Herculean (of extraordinary might or tremendous difficulty).
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 2014 spelling competition were the following:
Angela G. Leal Elementary
Ismaeli Elizabeth Cerda
Misael Garay
Lisa Morin
Dr. C.M. Cash Elementary
Patsy Alejandro
Tiare Delgado
Victoria Dominguez
Dr. Raul Garza, Jr. Elementary
Audrey Denise Garza
Carolin Fe Hernandez
Ana Karen Rangel Guerrero
Ed Downs Elementary
Reese Caldwell
Carlos Cordova
Lauren Saldaña
Frank Roberts Elementary
Alejandrina Alcala
Brandon Riedel
Sol Santana
Fred Booth Elementary
Melanie Nava
Judge Oscar De La Fuente Elementary
Alejandra Anahi Agado
Cassie Briana Hernandez
Israel Valdes
La Encantada Elementary
Andrea Clarissa Castillo
Angel Flores
Alondra Sujey Garcia
La Paloma Elementary
Dalila Bailey
Nadyeli Tejada
Victor Vazquez, Jr.
Landrum Elementary
Deyanira Garza
Dathen Daniel Leyva
Karen Sanchez
Rangerville Elementary
Naydelin Garza Jimenez
Jessenia Serrata
Sullivan Elementary
Ana Christina Diaz
Breana Garcia
Alyssa Hernandez
Berta Cabaza Middle School
Ariana Gabrielle Castillo
Jesus Garza III
Briana Vasquez
Miller Jordan Middle School
Adrian Julian Garcia
Luis Santiago Gonzalez
Lidia Denise Martinez
San Benito Riverside Middle School
Liliana Estrada
Ana Maria Vazquez
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 of the competition. “We sincerely appreciate absolutely everyone’s time and effort. It’s all about teamwork,” explained Cruz.
This year’s competition came to an end when Luis Santiago Gonzalez spelled the word Caucasian (of or relating to the Caucasus or its inhabitants), earning him the first place honor. Second place was awarded to Jesus Garza III of Berta Cabaza Middle School, and Adrian Julian Garcia of Miller Jordan Middle School received third place.
Gonzalez will now represent San Benito CISD at the 26th Annual Rio Grande Valley Regional Spelling Bee, slated for Saturday, March 1, 2014, at Texas State Technical College in Harlingen, Texas.

Congratulations!
Top spellers in the San Benito CISD’s 2014 Spelling Bee competition are (l-r) second place winner Jesus Garza III, Berta Cabaza Middle School; first place winner Luis Santiago Gonzalez, Miller Jordan Middle School; and third place winner Adrian Julian Garcia, Miller Jordan Middle School. Having earned the top spot in the local spelling competition, Gonzalez will represent the school district at the 26th Annual Rio Grande Valley Regional Spelling Bee, slated for March 1 at Texas State Technical College in Harlingen, Texas.