Holly fifth-grader will 'bee' moving up the competition ranks

#phocagallerypiclens 5-phocagallerypiclenscode-Education/hunter and white.jpg

Principal Beth Hunter and spel...

HOLLY, Michigan – When it comes to spelling, if there’s one thing fifth-grader Anna White doesn’t need, it’s a “tutor.”

Holly Elementary School fifth-graders participated in the school’s spelling bee Tuesday with the winning speller moving onto the 16th Annual Oakland Press Spelling Bee in February.

Before beginning the annual school spelling bee, Principal Beth Hunter told the group of students how proud she was of them for their participation.

“I’m just really proud of you all for trying,” she said. “That’s the important thing – and it’s awesome to have 32 of you willing to stand up and give it a shot.”

The aftermath of Round One left just 14 students still standing. Round Two reduced spellers to seven, and by Round Five, only three spellers remained – Lilly Rhoades, Rachel Warner and Anna White.  

Lilly Rhoades went down in Round Six, leaving Rachel and Anna to battle it out to the end. Deadlocked for Rounds Seven and Eight, Anna would eventually spell “tutor” in the ninth for the win.

“I’m really happy,” Anna said after the win. “I studied a lot – took a lot of quizzes.”

Anna will represent Holly Elementary School in the Oakland Press Spelling Bee slated for Feb. 20.