Sullivan Elementary School hosted their annual Spelling Bee on Thursday. Devan Baker took first place in the event with Madison Cottrell, taking second place. Pictured, from left to right, front row: Devon Baker, Madison Cottrell, Braden Carey and Bryce Schatz. Pictured, from left to right, back row: Kaylee Ennis, Haven Ransom, Diana Pfeiffer and Kyler Crump

By James B. Bartle
Sullivan Elementary School held their 2010 Spelling Bee on Thursday afternoon to determine which student will represent the school at the St. Louis Post Dispatch Spelling Bee set for March in St. Louis.
Eight students from the second grade through fifth grade won their respective grade level spelling bees, giving them the honor to compete during the school spelling bee on Thursday.
Those students making it to the final rounds and their respective class and grade were: Braden Carey, second grade, Mrs. Klauser; Bryce Schatz, second grade, Mrs. Gehlauf; Diana Pfeiffer, third grade, Mrs. Zeitzman; Kyler Crump, third grade, Mrs. Tutterrow; Devan Baker, fourth grade,  Ms. Slezak; Madison Eye-Cottrell, fourth grade, Mrs. Podner; Kaylee Ennis, fifth grade, Mrs. Shockley; and Haven Ransom, fifth grade, Mrs. Nowack.
Sullivan Elementary Principal Gary Edler served as the event emcee and provided each of the spelling words to the eight students.
Students made it through multiple rounds of the contest where they had to say the word, then spell it and say the word a second time after properly spelling it.
The words that stumped several students knocking them out of the competition included: happiest, squeeze, surround, exact and stopped.
In the final round, Madison Cottrell misspelled the word “squeeze,” which was then spelled correctly by Devan Baker. Baker then properly spelled his final word “treasure,” thus winning the competition.
Baker will now represent Sullivan Elementary in St. Louis at the state level with a chance to move on to the National Spelling Bee.
According to event sponsor Mrs. Elizabeth Ennis, this will be a written spelling bee at the state level rather than an oral round in front of an audience. If for some reason Baker is unable to attend the state event, the first runner-up, Madison Cottrell, will represent the school.
Mrs. Ennis stated that she was very proud of all the participants and was very pleased to see them make it through multiple spelling rounds.