“Calculator” was the word that won it at the Feb. 21 annual Nassau County Schools Spelling Bee.
The win will send 14-year-old Hilliard Middle-Senior High School student Cathy Le to the 80th annual regional Florida Times-Union Spelling Bee. This winner will go on to Scripps National Spelling Bee, beginning May 1 at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Md.
Thirteen participants from fifth and eighth grades in Nassau County competed in this year’s spelling bee. The students went more than 21 rounds before a winner was announced.
Le was born in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and came to America at the age of two. She is an honors student, a member of the yearbook staff and a member of Junior Beta. She enjoys spending time with friends, going to church and is extremely close with her family.
“Teachers describe Le as an energetic, unique, extremely talented young lady who always has a smile on her face,” said Rhonda Devereaux, director of elementary education for the Nassau County School District.
In addition to the trophy awarded to Le, the Fernandina Beach Optimist Club continued its 40 years of participating in the spelling bee by awarding Le with a letter of congratulations and a monetary award from the club.
tdishman@fbnewsleader.com