GHCA Bee is duel to the end

By Elna Seabrooks
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — In a classic display of good sportsmanship, Tessa Winship, the runner-up, gave a high five to her fellow eighth-grade classmate, Zachary Ebner, when he won the Greater Houlton Christian Academy (GHCA) Spelling Bee.
    Rev. Randall Burns acted as pronouncer, asking the 11 contestants from the sixth-eighth grades to spell words in front of an audience assembled at Military St. Baptist Church (MSBC) on Jan. 11. Following the Bee, Burns said: “It’s exhilarating to see young people challenged intellectually, sharpen and hone their skills, know those words, what they mean and how to spell them. It’s something that is fading quickly from our culture.”
Competitive rounds
    Although the youngest students made a valiant effort, by the fourth round, only three of the original 11 were left standing. Repeatedly Burns said: “We go again.” At the end of the seventh round Ebner and Winship were locked in a back-and-forth spirited succession of word spelling. Burns said again and again: “And, we go on.”
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Elna Seabrooks
GOOD TO GO — Tessa Winship, the runner-up, gives a high five to Zachary Ebner on his win at the Greater Houlton Christian Academy Spelling Bee. The two 13-year-old eighth-graders have earned their place to compete in the County Spelling Bee on Feb. 9.
    Finally, in the 16th round, Pastor Burns told Ebner his championship word was “incendiary.” Ebner claimed the school championship upon hearing the assertion: “That is correct. And, that will end our spelling bee.” Applause broke out with cheers and smiles across the aisles.
    The two students, both 13, commended each other on their accomplishments at the Bee. “He was awesome,” said Winship who added that she did not expect to go as far as she did in the competition. Ebner said: “I was pretty nervous. But, I calmed down after a while.” He said his toughest word was effervescent which he did, in fact, spell correctly. Winship said she couldn’t remember which word was most difficult for her.
A triumph for academics
    Lisa Surran, a former teacher who now volunteers for the school and MSBC, commented that she “loved the idea of an academic event that was celebrated” in light of the heavy emphasis in today’s culture on sports. Tom Zimmerman, assistant head of school, said he “liked seeing sixth-graders aspiring to achieve with older students as well as seeing Zach and Tessa vying back and forth to the end. Experience really does pay off.”
    Ebner and Winship will go to the County Spelling Bee on Wednesday, Feb. 9 at 6 p.m. in the Ashland District School.