Students from throughout the Lake Region gathered in the Ramsey County Courthouse and Memorial Building for the Ramsey County Spelling Bee on the morning of Feb. 8, 2024.
The coordinator for the Spelling Bee was Brittany Brunner. The Spelling Bee County Representative was Lisa Diseth.
The event sponsors included The Devils Lake Journal, Ramsey County and Central Middle School which provided the trophies, fruit tray, cookies and water for the contestants and community volunteers.
The community volunteers included Joseph Knowski, Devils Lake Police Department Chief of Police as Oral Round Judge. James Moe, Devils Lake Mayor was also an Oral Round Judge. They were joined by Bryan Lang, Ramsey County Sheriff and Daniel Howell, Ramsey County State’s Attorney to complete the list of Oral Round Judges.
Other Community volunteers for this event included Heather Nichols from Swenseth Law, Bev Bachmeier from the Ramsey County Courthouse, Jeanne Klemetsrud, retired ELA teacher; and Sawyer Diseth, accountant.
School volunteers included Abbey McCarthy and Terri Gunderson from Central Middle School, Ashley Legacie and Molly Holte from Prairie View, Mary Axdahl and Carleen Terres from St. Joseph Catholic School, and Alysson Groves from Starkweather School.
In all, 51 students participated from grades 3 through 8th grade.
The winners were:
Third Grade: 1st place – Archer Longie, Prairie View
2nd place – Ryan Erickstad, Prairie View
3rd place – Kendall Kenner, Prairie View
Fourth Grade: 1st place – Jude Asleson, Prairie View
2nd place – Emma Groves, Prairie View
3rd place – Haddie Wateland, St. Joseph Catholic School
Fifth Grade: 1st place – Talia Laite, St. Joseph Catholic School
2nd place – Ashlynn Helseth, Central Middle School
3rd place – Natalie Longie, Central Middle School
Sixth Grade: 1st place – Saige Nygaard, Central Middle School
2nd place – Jaxen Parisien, Central Middle School
3rd place – Stephanie McGath, Central Middle School
Seventh Grade: 1st. place – Chritopher Charles, Central Middle School
2nd place – Adley Olson, Central Middle School
3rd place – Akunna Onyeakazi, St. Joseph Catholic School
Eighth Grade: 1st place – Ella Wass, Central Middle School
2nd place – Jaelynn Bustos, Central Middle School
3rd place – Abigail Hogsten, Central Middle School
Top Five: 7th – 8th Grade
1. Ella Wass, 8th Grade, Central Middle School
2. Jaelynn Bustos, 8th Grade, Central Middle School
3. Christopher Charles, 7th Grade, Central Middle School
4. Abigail Hogsten, 8th Grade, Central Middle School
5. Jasper Leiphon, 8th Grade, St. Joseph Catholic School
Ramsey County Spelling Bee Champion, Runner-up and Alternate
1st place: Christopher Charles, 7th Grade, Central Middle School
Runner-Up: Ella Wass, 8th Grade, Central Middle School
Alternate: Jaelynn Bustos, 8th Grade, Central Middle School
