Schools
Down to the Last Word
Local spelling champions battle it out at Cerritos High School for the title of the district's best speller.
Vacillate. V-A-C-I-L-L-A-T-E.
According to the Merriam-Webster's online dictionary, it means to waiver in mind, will or feeling : hesitate in choice of opinions or course.
"Vacillate," was the final word that earned sixth grader Cathy Huang first place honors at the Spelling Bee on Feb. 8. But as she conquered each challenging word to overcome the competition, she did everything but vacillate.
Find out what's happening in Cerritos-Artesiafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Huang, a student from Stowers Elementary school, took 1st place with the word “vacillate,” but not before battling through words such as “beseech,” “temperamental,” “forgery,” “gaunt” and “aggrogate.”
Inside the Brewer Center for the Peforming Arts at , spelling champions from 4th grade through 6th grade at their respective schools, competed against each other in an elimination-based competition. Director of School Services Cheryl Bodger served as the Spell Master.
Find out what's happening in Cerritos-Artesiafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
One by one, each student stood before Bodger and a panel of judges to a given word. If incorrect, the judges rang a bell signifying they were eliminated from that round.
At the end of the competition, Huang was awarded a “Night on the Town” that included a Cerritos Center of the Performing Arts gift card, dinner at and an overnight stay at the .
“It feels great,” Huang told Patch.com as she tightly clutched her first place trophy. “I just studied like normal.”
Huang's parents were also beaming with pride over their daughters achievement.
"I'm so proud of her!" said Charlie Huang, Cathy's excited father.
Jeff Ives, a 6th grade teacher at Stowers Elementary School, helped to prepare the young spelling champ by giving her spellings lists as well as providing weekly Friday class spelling competitions.
“I am so happy that she (Huang) won,” Ives said. “I’m really proud of her.”
Second place winner, 6th grader Diana Jung from , received a gift card for Edwards Cinema and . Jung’s last correct word before elimination was “insidious.”
According to Mike McCoy, the Director of Child Development/Special Programs, Huang is now qualified to attend a county-wide spelling bee in which the best spellers in L.A. County compete.