VERNON HILLS, Ill. – State Representative Carol Sente, D-Vernon Hills, hosted her fifth annual Senior Spelling Bee at the Sedgebrook retirement community on Friday afternoon.
“It takes courage to compete in front of your peers,” Sente said. “I admire the individuals who enjoyed participating and showcased their spelling abilities. There are always tough words, this year– my personal favorite being ‘ophthalmologist’.”
Before the competition started, Sente provided a Springfield update for those in attendance, with an emphasis on legislation affecting seniors and passing a responsible budget. Out of the twelve who competed in front of a group of nearly 60 seniors, Christine Marie, of Vernon Hills came in first, and Serna Hahn of Lincolnshire came in second. Marie won the competition by spelling the word “whirligig” – an object that spins or whirls, or has at least one part that spins or whirls. Both Marie and Hahn will advance to the regional Spelling Bee where they will compete against other local champions for a chance to participate in this year’s finals at the Illinois State Fair.
