PORT ANGELES — Michael Roggenbuck, fifth-grade student at Roosevelt Elementary, placed first in the annual bee with the correct spelling of “recyclable.”
Kimberly Cano, sixth-grader at Hamilton Elementary, came in second, and Linus Waddell, a fifth-grade Dry Creek student, was third in the contest pitting more than 30 finalists from Port Angeles elementary schools against each other.
Schools participating in the citywide spelling bee Tuesday included Franklin, Jefferson, Dry Creek, Hamilton and Roosevelt in the Port Angeles School District, as well as Queen of Angels and Olympic Christian private schools.
Each of the top-three winners received trophies and book bags filled with prizes donated by the Friends of the North Olympic Library System.
The finalists – fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders – won the “spell downs” in their respective class bees and advanced to the citywide bee.
Soroptimist International of Port Angeles-Jet Set and the Friends of the North Olympic Library System sponsored the annual event.
Port Angeles School District Bee finalists, their schools and teachers are:
— Dry Creek Elementary — Fourth-graders Aiyana Jackson, taught by Nancy McHenry, and Arielle Barres, taught by Gunnar Thomason; fifth-graders Bonnie Peters, taught by Wyndi Cole, and third-place winner Waddell, taught by Patricia Schromen; and sixth-graders Rweha Munyagi, taught by Matt Gochnour, and Nathan Adamire, taught by Jennifer Soule.
Dry Creek alternates were fourth-graders Madison Orth and Madison Hiser.
— Franklin Elementary — Fourth-graders Chanelle Secondez, taught by Barry Burnett, and Anna Gentry, taught by Terri Longin; fifth-grader Amanda Crueger, taught by Nancy McCaleb; and sixth-graders Lily Davis, taught by Maria Kays, and Kiara Amundson, taught by Jay Averill.
Franklin alternates were Sean Hanrahan, fourth grade, and Michelle Alvarez, fifth grade.
— Hamilton Elementary — Marissa Lofgren, fourth grade, taught by Helen Bunch; fifth-graders Ashley Houston, taught by Jessica Baccus, and Lauren Paup-Byrnes, taught by George Kheriaty; sixth-graders Ryan Noble, taught by Jeff Lunt, and second-place winner Cano, taught by Bret Curtis.
The Hamilton alternate was Lauren Waldron.
— Jefferson Elementary — Fourth-graders Kayler Hoover and Nacia Bohman, taught by Sue Ellen Kraft; fifth-graders Phineas Lynn, taught by Sandra Biasell, and Skyler Sullivan, taught by Theresa Schmid; and sixth-graders Owen Nevaril, taught by Leah Bauman, and Liam Johnston, taught by Dean Lancaster.
Roosevelt alternates were fifth-graders Rylan MacDonald and Kartaria Om, and sixth-grade student Colby Boe.
— Roosevelt Elementary — Fourth-graders Ashley Wishart, taught by Teresa Hailer, Milo Whitman, taught by Teresa Thorson, and Ethan Cameron taught by Mary O’Kief; and fifth-graders Kolby Greul, taught by Gail Kite, Kelsey Cammack, taught by Geoffrey Cobb, and first-place winner Roggenbuck, taught by Mark Mitrovich.
Roosevelt alternates were Alexus Yeater, fourth grade, and Bobbi MacAdow, fifth grade.
Private school students who participated were:
— Queen of Angels Catholic School — Felicia Che, fourth grade, taught by Patricia Frenette; Arthur Murphy, fifth grade, and Sydney Realph-Wu, sixth grade, both taught by Elizabeth Allen.
Alternates were Abbey Fierro-Burdick and Alonna Realph-Wu.
— Olympic Christian School — Ethan Flodstrom, fourth grade, taught by Mandy Penso; Hollund Bailey, fifth grade, taught by Jon Vore; and Lily Robertson, sixth grade, taught by Louann Short.