Audrey Gust, Justin Timm,  Kiera Higgins and Ruby Osweiler 2021 NWSC Spelling Bee winners advance to Regionals.

Northwest Service Cooperative of Thief River Falls, sponsored the Regional Spelling Bee on Wednesday, February 3th virtually over Zoom. Sixteen winning spellers from 16 schools in Regions 1 & 2 participated in the Regional Bee after advancing from local and district competitions.  All spellers participated in an oral competition over Zoom.

The top four spellers advance to the Multi-Regional State Spelling Bee on February 16^th  in Fergus Falls which will be held virtually. They include: Audrey Gust, Grade 8, Greenbush/Middle River SD#2683; Justin Timm, Grade 7, Marshall County Central SD#441 Elementary; Ruby Osweiler, Grade 7, Roseau SD#682 and Kiera Higgins, Grade 8, Sacred Heart School, East Grand Forks.   

The champion speller of the Multi-Regional State Spelling Bee will compete in the National Spelling Bee.

Additional district winning spellers competing in the Regional Spelling Bee included Aubree Henriksen, Blackduck SD#32; Elizabeth Grace Smith, Crookston SD #593-Highland Elem; Amy Sampson, Goodridge SD#561; Emily Johnson, Grygla SD#447; Andi Twamley, Lancaster SD#356; Cyrus Thomopoulos, S. Koochiching Rainy River/Indus SD#363; Rae Martinson, Red Lake County Central SD#2906; Ava Sustad, Stephen/Argyle Central SD#2856; Kiera Higgins, Sacred Heart School; Kason Hanson, Thief River Falls SD#564; Straet Spilde, Tri-County SD#2358; Cooper Deschene, Warren/Alvarado/Oslo SD#2176; Joy Neubert, Win-E-Mac SD#2609

The Multi-Region State Spelling Bee will include Regional Spelling Bee winners from the following Service Cooperative regions: Region 1 & 2 - Northwest Service Cooperative, Thief River Falls; Region 3 - Northeast Service Cooperative, Mt. Iron; Region 4 - Lakes Country Service Cooperative, Fergus Falls; Region 5 - Resource Training & Solutions, St. Cloud; and Regions 6 and 8 - Southwest/West Central Service Cooperatives, Marshall. 

The Spelling Bee is a series of competitions for students in grades 5-8 beginning at the classroom level and progressing on to district, region, state and national levels.  Benefits for students include improved spelling, increased vocabulary, learning concepts, developing correct English usage, developing poise in public performance and community recognition for participation.