
2/12

CONGRATULATIONS

to the students participatingin the 2013 Spelling Bee!

SAGE supports kids andbooks together they open

a world of possibilities!

www.sagepub.com

VCS1292891

VCS1292890

4591 Market St. Ventura, 93003 805.644.4657 I CSFCU.org

Were rooting for you.

A-S-T-O-N-I-S-H-I-N-G

Amazing

Dazzling

Great

Fantastic


3/12

he Ventura County Star has presented

the County Spelling Bee for more than

50 years. This year, the Star is proud to

present 132 of the best school-aged

spellers in Ventura County.

This community spelling bee program

requires the commitment of school

spelling bee coordinators for Ventura

County public, private, parochial, charter, virtual and home

schools. Each of these schools sends one champion to the

final bee.

Ultimately, one talented speller will win an all-expenses

paid trip to the 88th annual 2013 Scripps National Spelling

Bee near Washington, D.C.

The Scripps National Spelling Bee is the nat ions largestand longest-running educational promotion, administered

on a not-for-profit basis by The E.W. Scripps Company.

The Ventura County Star is one of many l ocal spelling

bee sponsors from the United States, American Samoa,

Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Department

of Defense Schools in Europe; also, the Bahamas, China,

Ghana, Jamaica, Japan and South Korea.

The purpose is to help students improve their spelling,

increase their vocabularies, learn concepts, and develop

correct English usage that will help them all their lives.

VCS1292892

Excellent Rates on both conventional and jumbo loans

FHA StreamlineNo appraisal or documentation required

We specialize in the goverments HARP program for

borrowers who owe more than their homes market value.

Were not a bank. We focus solely on lending and handle

every step of the process in-house. This means faster

service and fewer hassles.

For your home loan needs, look no furtherthan homehere inVentura County.

PennyMac is a nationally-licensed home lender with

corporate headquarters here in Ventura County!

Let us help you with your new loan or refinance needs.

2008-2013 PennyMacLoan Services,LLC, 6101 Condor Drive,Suite 200, Moorpark,CA 93021,818-224-7442. Trade/service marks are the property of PennyMac Loan Services,LLC,and/or its

subsidiaries or affiliates.NMLS # 35953. Licensed by theDepartment of Corporations under the California Residential Mortgage LendingAct.Information,rates and pricing are subject

tochange without prior notice at the sole discretion of PennyMac Loan Services,LLC.All loan programs subject to borrowers meeting appropriate underwritingconditions.This is not a

commitment to lend.Other restrictions apply. Allrights reserved.

www.PennyMacUSA.com

(855) 528-0994(855) 528-0994

Rates as low as3.250%

VenturaCounty Star

Spelling BeeSPONSOR

TWhere do the words come from?

The Bees official reference is Websters Third

New International Dictionary (Websters Third)and its addenda section, copyright 2002,

Merriam-Webster. All words on the lists produced

by the Scripps national office can be found in

Websters Third.

How many words are in each

2013 Final Local Bee List?There are 500 words in the Final Local Bee List:300 words from a list provided by the Scripps

National Spelling Bee, Spell It! and 200 Additional

Words. Additional Words do not appear on any of

the 2013 study lists for students; however, they do

appear in our official dictionary.

Star File photo

2012 Ventura County champion, Brian Jeffersawaits his turn to spell.


4/12

This year more than 16,000 third- through eighth-

grade students participated in classroom spelling

bees in 132 schools from Ojai to Oak Park.

Each School Spelling Bee Champion qualified to

advance to the final rounds of the Ventura County

Star Spelling Bee. The following is a list of those

champions, the school they represent, hometown,

grade level, and winning word.

Matthew Arana

Thelma Bedell Elem.,Santa Paula, grade 5

rattlesnake

Megan BradleyRedwood Middle School,Simi Valley, grade 7

bravado

Aimee CasillasOcean View Jr. High,Camarillo, grade 8

cerebellum

Rachel CassarTrinity Pacific Christian,Moorpark, grade 6

optometry

Joshua CenzanoHollywood Beach Elem.,Oxnard, grade 5

incredible

Noelle Ru ChapmanBeacon HillClassical Academy,Camarillo, grade 6

interrogative

Jonathan BrahimTierra Linda Elem.,Camarillo, grade 5

demonstrable

Claire BrokawSanta Clara Elem.,Santa Paula, grade 6

haughtiness

Noah BrowneWill Rogers Elementary,Ventura, grade 3

consistency

Abbey BuffordBalboa Middle School,Ventura, grade 6

rheumatism

Jem BurchGolden Valley Charter,Van Nuys, grade 4

notabilia

Cianna Calia

Carden Schoolof Camarillo,Oxnard, grade 8

worthwhile

Kylie CamanagMesa Union Elem.,Camarillo, grade 7

exfoliate

Olivia Arthur

CAPE Charter School,Camarillo, grade 6

approachable

Kristina AskenasColina Middle School,T.O., grade 7

effervesce

Diego Avila

Olivelands School,Santa Paula, grade 4patient

Geraldine BalajadiaRio Lindo Elem.,Oxnard, grade 5

meticulous

Ethan BandelinPoinsettia Elementary,

Ventura, grade 5

coalescence

Brandy BarajasRio Del Norte Elem.,Oxnard, grade 5

pleasant

Warren BlinoffSanta Rosa TechnologyMagnet, Camarillo,grade 7 metronome

Shayla AdamOur Lady Of GuadalupeParish, Oxnard, grade 7

parliamentary

Emily AguilarPhoenix Ranch School,Moorpark, grade 7

succumb

Nathalia AguileraBriggs Elementary,Santa Paula, grade 7planetarium

Lukas AlzamoraBlanche ReynoldsElem., Oxnard, grade 5

cultivation

Alexandria Angell

Holy Cross School,Channel Islands, grade 8

reveal

Alejandro Arana

Blanchard Elementary,Santa Paula, grade 5

describe

Levante BoydSunkist Elementary,Oxnard, grade 6

preposterous

Claudia AdelmanSan Antonio Elem.,Ojai, grade 6

faulty

Alondra AltonRio Del Valle Jr. High,Oxnard, grade 6

renewal


5/12

Riley DanaRancho Rosal Elem.,Camarillo, grade 4

insurrection

Daniel GalloRio Real Elem., Oxnard,grade 5

language

Maya GhanemSequoia Middle School,T.O., grade 6

extraneous

Cameron GonzalesNorman R. BrekkeElem., Oxnard, grade 6

flora

Victor GonzalezAnsgar Larsen Elem.,Oxnard, grade 4glossary

Hayden GalvanMcKevett Elementary,Santa Paula, grade 4

humility

Diego GarciaPiru ElementaryPiru, grade 5

moonlight

Eric GarciaJohn C. FremontIntermediate School,Oxnard, grade 8

statistician

Lauren GarciaMupu Elementary,Santa Paula, grade 7

residential

Hannah GarrisonSaticoy Elem., Ventura,grade 4

incredible

Taylor GreggSummit Elementary,Ojai, grade 6

weird

Adeline DeLamarJuanamaria Elem.,Ventura, grade 4

formula

Angela DiazDennis McKinna Elem.,Oxnard, grade 6

curiosity

Ayla DvoretzkyLa Reina High School,Newbury Park, grade 7

accomplishment

Victoria DzieciolLas Colinas MiddleSchool, Camarillo,

grade 6pompadour

Zayne ElnakaMesa Verde MiddleSchool, Moorpark,

grade 6approachable

Raizel FerrerChrista McAuliffeElem., Oxnard, grade 5

ferocious

Jacob FirmeFred L. Williams Elem.,Oxnard, grade 4

herbaceous

Alexandria CohenOur Lady of AssumptionSchool, Ventura, grade 8

recipient

Lauren CosgroveUniversity CharterMiddle School,

Camarillo, grade 8

bravado

Lawrenze CocjinJulien Hathaway

Port Hueneme, grade 5

conclude

Abigail ChomillerLa Mariposa Elem.,Camarillo, grade 5

planetarium

Joanna Cipres-HurtadoDos Caminos Elem.,

Camarillo, grade 4

flora

Ariana GreenidgeRiver Oaks Academy,T.O., grade 8

prominent

Supporting education is just good businessCounty Schools Federal Credit Union

is committed to supporting education.

For more than 13 years the Credit Union

has devoted its efforts to support youth-

orientated programs and initiativesincluding its

financial literacy

programs: Making

the Right Money

Moves; geared towards middle school

and high school students, and Saving

with Mandy and Randy; for elementary

students. County Schools Federal Credit

Unions dedication to the students

remains with the support of various youth

programs such as Ventura County Officeof Education Academic Decathlon, Mock

Trial, Science Fair and todays Ventura

County Spelling Bee.

It is our duty and responsibility to

help pass the torch of a better future

to the next generation. The youth is the

future and we must give our students all

the tools and resources we can to help

them succeed, said Robert Emerick,Chief Executive Officer,

County Schools Federal

Credit Union.

As the only education

Credit Union in Ventura County and

nonprofit financial institution, County

Schools Federal Credit Union provides

financial services at the lowest possible

cost to the faculty, staff, students and

their immediate family members from

all public and private schools in VenturaCounty.

County Schools Federal Credit Union

is at 4591 Market St., Ventura. Phone:

644-4657, website: CSFCU.org


6/12

EvEnt

Saturday, March 2, 2013

1 p.m.,

Malibu Hall 100

California State University,

Channel Islands

Program

Welcome

Spelling Bee Rules

Spelling Bee

Awards Ceremony

Cuy Bee PuceSheryl MisenhimerPrincipalGlen City Elementary School

Cuy Bee JudesDr. Trudy T. Arriaga

Superintendent

Ventura Unified School District

Robert Emerick

Chief Executive Officer

County Schools Federal Credit Union

Anne McCallion

Chief Financial Officer

PennyMac

Alisa Sparkia Moore, J.D.

Albert Sciamanna

Vice President, Customer Service

and Fulfillment

SAGE

John Tarkany

Coordinator, Student

Competitions & Fundraising

Ventura County Office of Education

my thks t ou

Cdis d vlueesThank you to the 132 school coordinatorswho coached and mentored their schoolchampion. Thank you to the WorkerBees who have dedicated their time toensure that our spellers are welcomeand prepared. Above all, thanks to thestudents, parents and teachers fromVentura County who took part in thisyears Spelling Bee.

veu Cuy S SffMargie Cochrane

Publisher & Chief Revenue Officer

Monica White

Director of Marketing, West Coast

Julie Lopez

County Spelling Bee Coordinator

Clifi Se UiesiyChel Islds SffDr. Richard R. Rush

President

Dawn NeumanProvost and Vice President

for Academic Affairs

Nancy Covarrubias Gill

Director of Communication & Marketing

Ventura County Star Spelling Bee

Partner Bee Sponsor

Host Bee SponsorCorporate Bee Sponsors

Downtown

Ventura

Lions Club

Presented by


7/12

Micah Wilcox

Micah is intellectually curious,

focused, and an extremely well

rounded student.

De Anza Middle School

Bryant Hawks

Bryant loves to read and is

an excellent soccer player in

addition to being a comedian!Sunset School

Noelle Ru Chapman

Noelle can be found at any time

humming or singing songs from

her favorite movie and book Les

Miserables. Since she is learning

Mandarin Chinese as her second

language, English spelling seems a bit

easier for her!Beacon Hill Classical Academy

Abigail Chomiller

Abby won the spelling bee at

La Mariposa 2 years in a row; last

year as a 4th grader and this year

as a 5th grader!

La Mariposa Elementary School

Jacob Firme

Jacob is a standout student:smart, funny, athletic and super

personable. In addition to

pursuing academic excellence,

he loves karate and video games.

This is his second appearance in the county

bee; he placed in the top 10 last year as a

third grader.

Fred L Williams Elementary School

Ariana Greenidge

Girl Scout, pianist, jewelry

maker, loves everything pink and

zebra print.

River Oaks Academy

Troy Guglielmo

Troy likes hockey, basketball,

skateboarding and listening to

music.

Pleasant Valley Christian School

Soleil Jones

Soleils favorite book is A Little

Princess. She also swims and

crochets.

Juan Soria Elementary School

Ruby Lyn Lucin

Honor student. Very outspoken

and bright. Would like to become

an attorney.

Richard B. Haydock

Intermediate School

Damian Meza

Damian loves to read

fantasy books.

Fillmore Middle School

Marisol Ramirez

This is Marisols second year in

a row as St. Sebastian School

Champion!

St. Sebastian School

Roselyn Romero

Roselyn is a phenomenal

human being. She not only

reads voraciously, she will finish

an entire series of books before

I have finished the first book,

and her book reviews are second to none.Roselyn is also a caring and compassionate

person.

Charles Blackstock Junior High School

Cianna Calia

Cianna is an aspiring

paleontologist. She often talks

about fossils and has taught her

teachers a thing or two!

Carden School Of Camarillo

The number of returning spellerswho competed in the 2012 VenturaCounty Star Spelling Bee.

The most number of lettersin three of the winning wordsfrom the school spelling bees accomplishment, fantastically,

and grandiloquence.

What schools had to say about

our 2012 Returning School Champs

Olivia Arthur

Olivia is a logophile!

CAPE Charter School

The number of schoolspelling bee championswho qualified for theVentura County StarSpelling Bee.

The percentageof girls participatingin the county bee.

The numberof eighth gradeschool champions.

The numberof thirdgrade schoolchampions

The age of the youngestschool champion:Carissa Rangel

The numberof spellerscompetingin their thirdVentura CountyStar SpellingBee: Cianna Calia

Ethan Bandelin

Ethan is a great student who

makes Poinsettia proud. He is

the oldest of three siblings. He

enjoys playing baseball and

skateboarding. He reads nightly,

with his favorite genre being mystery, and his

favorite series being the Hardy Boys.

Poinsettia Elementary School

Lauren Cosgrove

Lauren likes to play soccer and

hang out with her friends. This is

her fourth Spelling Bee and shehas won it 3 times.

University Charter Middle School

Sophia Silvester

Sophia is an avid reader, is very

organized, is a leader on our

campus, and is a good friend to

her peers.

Bethany Christian School


8/12

Hayden Hickerson

Citrus Glen Elementary,Ventura, grade 5

complexity

Sophia KoehlerUniversity PreparatorySchool at CSUCI,

Camarillo, grade 5convention

Aja LimMontalvo Elementary,Ventura, grade 5

culture

Miguel LopezE. P. Foster Elementary,Ventura, grade 5

canteen

Ruby Lyn LucinRichard B. Haydock

Intermediate School,Oxnard, grade 8

salubrious

Cierra LaMarchinaMeadows Arts andTechnology Elem.,

T.O., grade 5nonchalant

Michelle AndreaLanderosCesar Chavez Elem.,

Oxnard, grade 6whiskery

Megan LangleyGood ShepherdLutheran School,

Simi Valley, grade 7describe

Laura LarzelereHueneme Elem.,Port Hueneme, grade 5

magnificent

Deven LeonIsbell Middle School,Santa Paula, grade 7

comportment

Uyen MaiE. O. Green Jr. High,Port Hueneme, grade 8

personage

Sofia Huff

Pierpont Elementary,Ventura, grade 4

satire

Rachel Johnston

Junipero Serra Elem.,Ventura, grade 4

plateau

Soleil JonesJuan Soria Elementary,Oxnard, grade 8

delicatessen

Golnaz KamaliLoma Vista Elementary,Ventura, grade 3

isolation

Anjali KhandelwalChaparral MiddleSchool, Moorpark,

grade 8electioneer

Goldie KlineLindero CanyonMiddle School,

Agoura Hills, grade 6beatitude

Katie HearstBrookside Elementary,Oak Park, grade 4

judicial

Bryant HawksSunset Elementary,Oak View, grade 6

diverge

Troy GuglielmoPleasant ValleyChristian School,Camarillo, grade 8

grandiloquence

Jakob HarwoodMira Monte Elem.,Ojai, grade 6

provoke

Yahir MarilesGlen City Elementary,Santa Paula, grade 5

snarky

Cate MackelSt. Rose of Lima School,Simi Valley, grade 7

satisfactory

Aidan McDonaldTopa Topa Elementary,Oak View, grade 6

slander

Committed to programsthat further education

SAGE is the worlds leading

independent academic and professional

publisher. A global company, SAGE was

founded in 1965 by Sara Miller McCuneand her husband George McCune and

has grown to employ more than 1,200

people worldwide. With offices all over

the world including Thousand Oaks,

London, New Delhi, Singapore, and

Washington DC, SAGEs dedication to

education and scholarship extends far

beyond Ventura County. SAGE publishes

more than 700 academic journals and

more than 800 books annually in the

pursuit of helping to spread the reach ofknowledge.

SAGE believes passionately that

scholarship lies at the heart of any

healthy society and that education

is intrinsically valuable. As such, it is

committed to investing money into

community efforts that reflect our core

values. SAGEs current philanthropicefforts are committed to programs that

further education.

SAGE supports higher education

among its employees, as well. Currently

SAGE completely underwrites the

pursuit of a first-time college degree for

full-time employees, provides textbook

reimbursements for employees and their

children, and provides some funding for

employees pursuing advanced degrees.

SAGE is happy to have theopportunity to support endeavors such

as the Ventura County Spelling Bee that

further education and strengthen the

community where we live and work.


9/12

Eli MochelOjai Valley School,Carpinteria, grade 7

approachable

Emily PeirsonPinecrest Schools (T.O.),Newbury Park, grade 5

evaluate

Kiya Pupa

Meiners Oaks Elem.,Ojai, grade 6

opulent

Matthew RacelisSt. Anthonys School,Oxnard, grade 5

ardent

Neela RahseparianMonte Vista MiddleSchool, Camarillo,grade 8

vernacular

Larisa PenalozaRio Vista Middle School,Oxnard, grade 6

occupancy

Sophia PinaSespe Elementary,Fillmore, grade 5

rustic

Jason Pitpit

Driffill Elementary,Oxnard, grade 6

vaporize

Tori Plummer

Pinecrest Schools,Moorpark, grade 5

entangled

Fred Ponce III

Mountain Vista Elem.,Fillmore, grade 5

lousy

Kimia MortezaiMary Law Private School,Oxnard, grade 6

perestroika

Zachary MundwillerSt. Paschal Baylon,T.O., grade 8

seismograph

Christopher NguyenLos Primeros Structured,Camarillo, grade 8

diaphanous

Kayla OlivarezRio Plaza Elementary,Oxnard, grade 5

describe

Gisele OrtegaSacred Heart Elem.,Ventura, grade 6

facilitate

Andria Osuna-CasasGrace S. Thille Elem.,Santa Paula, grade 4

gnat

Vincent PazRose Avenue Elem.,Oxnard, grade 6

impediment

Christian MessolineMatilija Junior HighSchool, Ojai, grade 7

mistletoe

Damian MezaFillmore Middle School,Fillmore, grade 6

satisfactory

Jasmine MesaNorma HarringtonElem., Oxnard, grade 4

eruption

Michael MedinaBarbara Webster Elem.,Santa Paula, grade 5

squalid

Jonathan MereteElmhurst Elementary,Ventura, grade 4

mandate

Ella RajalaVentura MissionChristian School,Ventura, grade 7

opulent

Olivia RajhelLas Posas Elementary,Camarillo, grade 4

fantastically

Test yourspellingprowess

Have you ever watched or attended a Spelling Bee and thought

Hey, I know these words? Here is your chance to find out how

you would do in the county championship. This video is the actual

first round test from the 2012 Ventura County Spelling Bee. All

participants were required to take this test and the top scoring

spellers then moved on to the final rounds held at California State

University, Channel Islands. With the 2013 bee today, heres a

chance to test yourself. Just go to The Stars website below and

participate in your own spelling bee.Have fun and good luck!

http://www.vcstar.com/videos/detail/spelling-bee-home-quiz


10/12

Matthew Roth

Conejo ValleyHomeschoolers,Newbury Park, grade 5

parliamentary

Sophia SilvesterBethany Christian,T.O., grade 6

invertebrate

Valerie VelasquezLincoln Elementary,

Ventura, grade 5merit

Micah WilcoxDe Anza Middle School,

Ventura, grade 6taciturn

Richard YanMedea Creek

Middle School,Oak Park, grade 8

hors doeuvre

Rachel ZaffinaAnacapa Middle School,

Ventura, grade 7implicit

Genevieve ThomasCabrillo Middle School,Ventura, grade 8

bravado

Han TrieuRio Del Mar Elem.,Oxnard, grade 5

horizon

Julian TuazonRio Rosales Elem.,Oxnard, grade 4

apostate

Meleia VallierPortola Elementary,

Ventura, grade 5

monumental

Alexis VasquezEmilie Ritchen Elem.,

Oxnard, grade 6

convention

Gisela VazquezMarina West Elem.,Port Hueneme, grade 5

transfixed

Kyler VeaSanta Clara Elementary,

Oxnard, grade 4occupancy

Jessica Ruiz

Robert J. FrankIntermediate School,Oxnard, grade 8

vaporize

Mason Sachs

Camarillo Heights Elem.,Camarillo, grade 4

pleasant

Dominique Salapare

St. Mary Magdalen,Camarillo, grade 8

fallibility

Lesly Salazar

Ramona Elementary,Oxnard, grade 5

precaution

Nathaniel Salazar

Living Oaks MiddleSchool Acad. Alliance,Moorpark, grade 7

isolation

Bryce Saldajeno

Los Cerritos MiddleSchool, T.O.,grade 7

nonchalant

Vipul Sangaraju

Oak Hills Elementary,Oak Park, grade 5

grandiloquence

Marisol Ramirez

St. Sebastian School,Fillmore, grade 8

caterpillar

Tejas Rao

Red Oak Elementary,T.O., grade 4

caravan

Alejandro Razo

Thurgood MarshallElementary,Oxnard, grade 6

implicit

Estrella Rico

Sheridan Way Elem.,Ventura, grade 4

miasma

Madeleine Ro

Cornerstone Christian,T.O., grade 6

pestilent

Roselyn Romero

Charles BlackstockJunior High School,Oxnard, grade 7

lousy

Braden SilvaMound Elementary,Ventura, grade 4

haughtiness

Carissa Rangel

PJ Academy, Oxnard,grade 3

extreme

Jessica Reyes

Art Haycox Elem.,Oxnard, grade 5

incredible

Connor ZamoraEl Descanso Elem.,

Camarillo, grade 4snarky

Dorian ZavalaSan Cayetano Elem.,

Piru, grade 4potatoes


11/12

Brian Jefers, 2012 Ventura County Star

Spelling Bee Champast March, Brian Jeffers, an

eighth-grader at Las Colinas

Middle School in Camarillo

at the time, took first in the

countywide Ventura County

Star Spelling Bee. The event

was held at CSU Channel

Islands in Camarillo.

Brian was one of 136 school champions

who started the day early with a written

test 43 advanced to the traditional oral

bee.

He started the bee on a light note,

pointedly checking his name tag when

it came his turn to spell his name, which

prompted a burst of laughter from

anxious parents and teachers in the

audience.

That was intentional, he said after his

win. I just wanted to get a laugh. ... Humor

helps you stay calmer, not as tense.

After a day of spelling obscure words,

overcoming tense moments and even

making a couple of jokes, he was pleased

to take first place in round 10 by correctly

spelling renascent, which means

showing new life or strength.

Brian received an all-expenses paid

trip to near Washington, D.C. to compete

in the 85th Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Scripps is the parent company of the

Ventura County Star.

Heres why Brian is such a great speller:

He recognizes patterns in words. And he

loves to read.

In fact, thats how he prepared for the

Scripps National Spelling Bee. He sought

out unusual words in whatever he was

reading at the moment and learned them.

And he recognized words that likely

derived from, say, Latin or French. He

especially likes French.

They have words that have these

weird sounds like boudoir, he said,

stretching out the last syllable.

Brian wasnt the first in his family to go

to the national spelling bee. Years ago, his

mothers brother went, also representing

Ventura County.

Brian said his mother, Dr. Lynn Jeffers, is

the main person who helped him prepare

for the bee. And she offered perspective.

I always tell him, Its not just about

books; its about life, said Lynn Jeffers, aphysician in Camarillo.

Brians entire family his mother,

father and younger sister, Haley, 9

traveled with him for the bee.

The three-day national competition

last June was tough, starting with a

written test the first day and two oral

rounds of spelling the next. The field was

competitive with 278 spellers, ranging in

age from 8 to 15, arriving from all 50 states

and some foreign countries. To qualify forthe semifinals, spellers had to earn a score

of at least 23. Scores were determined

from the results of a written test and two

oral rounds of competition.

He had spelled two words correctly in

the preliminary rounds and felt he had

done well on the written test.

But when the names of the 50

semifinalists were announced at the end

of the second day of competition, Brians

name was not on the list.I just did my best, he said.

Brian earned six points from spelling

two words correctly in the oral rounds

and another 13 points on the written test,

giving him a total score of 19.

He got off to a good start in the two

oral rounds of competition.

During round two, he stood

confidently before the microphone, hands

at his side, and attempted to spell coffle,

which comes from Arabic and means a

gang of men or a train of animals fastened

together.

C-o-f-f-l-e, he said.

The judges nodded their approval,the audience broke into applause, and he

returned to his seat in triumph.

A few hours later, Brian was back at the

microphone, where he correctly spelled

balalaika in the third round. Balalaika is a

guitar-like instrument. I sort of guessed,

he confessed later, admitting that he had

only vaguely heard of the word.

Even though he did not advance to the

semifinals, Brian said participating in the

spelling bee had been a good experience.He was sponsored by the Ventura County

Star.

His advice to future spellers? Just work,

study hard and dont give up, he said.

Star file photo

After a day of spelling obscure words, overcoming tense moments and evenmaking a couple of jokes, Brian Jeffers was pleased to take first place inround 10 of the countywide spelling bee.

Brian took first place by correctlyspelling renascent in the countywidespelling bee. His advice to futurespellers? Just work, study hard anddont give up.

L

Ventura Downtown Lions


12/12

Ventura County

KIA of Ventura

Proudly Presents Our

Sonoma Style Crab Feast

Saturday, April 13, 2013

$50 Per Person In Advance(ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT)

For Tickets, Reservations & Sponsorships, call (805)485-6114 x631

- A Special Thanks To Our Sponsors -

www.venturalionsevents.org

4:30 pm Doors Open 6:30 pm Dinner Served

Ventura County Fairgrounds 10 E. Harbor Blvd., Ventura San Miguel Hall

Door Prizes Silent & Live Auction

All net proceeds will support Lions Clubs Charities and Interface Children & Family Services, aorganization whose mission is to strengthen children, families, & communities to be safe, healthy, and thriving.

TEAMNISSAN

VCS1292889

VCS1292893

Everywhere you turn on campus, innovation

is happening. Students are conducting stem

cell research. A professor is advising Gulf

Coast ecologists on the best way to restore

their shoreline. An economist is predictingwhat will happen to the housing market

in 2014. Your University brings together

enormous opportunities to impact the world.

TOGETHER WE INNOVATEjoinus.csuci.edu/ssb

Spelling Bee 2013 - Ventura County Star - vcstar.com

Documents

Transcript of Spelling Bee 2013 - Ventura County Star - vcstar.com