About The BeeThe Ventura County Star has

sponsored the County Spell-ing Bee for more than 50

years. This year more than 16,000third through eighth grade stu-dents participated in classroomspelling bees in 138 schools fromOjai to Oak Park.The National Spelling Bee be-

gan in 1925. Nine students partici-pated in the first national finals.In 1941 Scripps Howard acquiredthe rights to the program. Therewas no Scripps National SpellingBee during theWorldWar II yearsof 1943, 1944, and 1945. Of the 86National Spelling Bee champions,45 have been girls and 41 havebeen boys. Co-champions weredeclared in 1950, 1957, and 1962.The 2011 Scripps National SpellingBee will involve more than 11 mil-lion students at the local level.Ultimately, 13 Ventura County

students will compete at the 2011Ventura County Star Spelling Beeon Monday, March 14, 2011 atMalibu Hall on the campus of CSUChannel Islands. The final cham-pion will win an all-expenses-paidtrip to compete in the 86th annual2011 Scripps National Spelling BeeinWashington, D.C.The Scripps National Spelling

Bee is an educational promotionsponsored by The E.W. ScrippsCompany in conjunction withsponsoring newspapers and orga-nizations around the world.Its purpose is to help students

improve their spelling, increasetheir vocabulary, learn concepts,and develop correct English usagethat will help them all their lives.

Karen Quincy Loberg / Star StaffAriana Greenidge takes the microphone having survived a rugged first round of the Conejo Valley spelling bee held at CypressElementary School on Feb. 17 in Newbury Park. Bobby Tatum, second to right, of Meadows Arts and Technology Elementary Schoolcorrectly spelled “Olympiad”, defeating Edie Sussman, right, of Redwood Middle School.

■ New this year: Scripps doubled the total number of study words for students in grades 1–8, giving students theopportunity to familiarize themselves with twice as many words.

■ The official dictionary of the Scripps National Spelling Bee is the 2002 edition ofWebster’s Third NewInternational Dictionary, Unabridged, published by Merriam-Webster.

■ In addition to improving students’ spelling skills and increasing their vocabularies, spelling bee participationprovides valuable experience in developing poise— a necessary skill for success in public speaking, performingarts and athletics.

■ For more information about the Scripps National Spelling Bee, log on to www.spellingbee.com.

3

Didyouknow?

School Winners4

This year more than 16,000 third-through eighth-grade studentsparticipated in classroom spelling beesin 138 schools from Ojai to Oak Park.The following is a list of the schoolwinners, grade and winning word.

Alexis Biggs-McCullarValley Oak CharterSchool, grade 6jury

Elizabeth CastanedaSan Cayetano Elem.School, grade 5heartthrob

Manvir DhaliwalThurgood MarshallElem. School, grade 6neighborhood

Ashlyn DobbieRed Oak ElementarySchool, grade 5inoculate

Alyssa DriscollConejo Valley Home-schoolers, grade 5apocalyptic

Rena DvoretzkyLa Reina High School,grade 7inoculate

Jennifer ChangBalboa Middle School,grade 6jingoism

Rebecca ChuaChrista McAuliffe Elem.School, grade 5nebulosity

Julienne CormierMontalvo ElementarySchool, grade 5predicate

Curraun CorriveauPortola ElementarySchool, grade 5colony

Gabriella CostinCarden Conejo School,grade 7incendiary

Sol De La CruzRichard Bard Elem.School, grade 6isolationism

Wayne Delos SantosJulien HathawaySchool, grade 5rambunctious

Sierra BinneyCamarillo HeightsSchool, grade 4renounce

Jasmine BlountTierra Vista ElementarySchool, grade 5abracadabra

Jocelyn BrossiaJunipero Serra Elem.School, grade 4monstrosity

Carlos CabreraPiru ElementarySchool, grade 4unify

Cianna CaliaVentura MissionarySchool, grade 6succinct

Joe CancholaSummit ElementarySchool, grade 4serenely

Ashley CarpioRio Del Valle JuniorHigh School, grade 8zephyr

Ethan AmblerCabrillo Middle School,grade 6quizzical

Javi ArangoOjai Valley School,grade 7enzyme

Olivia ArthurCape Charter School,grade 4jingoism

Emery BaylenLadera ElementarySchool, grade 3fatigue

Mishell BeylikMountain Vista Elem.School, grade 5quadrilateral

Bertha BelmonteOcean View JuniorHigh School, grade 6lawful

Kimberly CasillasFred LWilliams Elem.School, grade 3prejudice

Alejandro AranaBarbaraWebster Elem.School, grade 3quench

Nicole BakmanPinecrest Schools SimiValley, grade 7unnatural

5

Sarah FooteDos Caminos School,grade 4wrestle

Evan GrossmannRancho Rosal Elem.School, grade 5weasel

Arnold HidalgoParkview ElementarySchool, grade 5fertilize

Andrew HillSunset ElementarySchool, grade 7curmudgeon

Madeline HoodLos Primeros School ofSciences & Arts, gr. 4engineer

Karissa GuerraDennis McKinna Elem.School, grade 6speculate

Jesus GuerreroDe Anza MiddleSchool, grade 6distinguishable

Brenda GuillenBriggs ElementarySchool, grade 7oxygen

Miguel Angel GuzmanArt Haycox ElementarySchool, grade 5sanitary

Lauren HallMonte Vista MiddleSchool, grade 8biopsy

Connie HashiguchiSequoia Middle School,grade 8astigmatism

Leticia HernandezMcKevett ElementarySchool, grade 5procedure

Lauren GarciaMupu ElementarySchool, grade 5intermittent

Athena GironSanta Clara Elem.School (pub.), grade 7misdemeanor

Esmeralda GodinaE O Green Junior HighSchool, grade 7misspell

Armando GomezGlen City ElementarySchool, grade 5fasten

Eileen GomezWill Rogers ElementarySchool, grade 5sombrero

Ariana GreenidgeBridges Charter School,grade 0alphanumerical

Caleb GroenBethany ChristianSchool, grade 6endocrine

McKenna FarnhamEARTHS MagnetSchool, grade 5grammarian

Ryan FerronCarden School OfCamarillo, grade 6fastidious

Alec EverardRio Del Mar Elem.School, grade 5triumph

Zayne ElnakaPinecrest SchoolsMoorpark, grade 4environs

Leslie EsparzaHoly Cross School,grade 8suffrage

SamanthaMadridCesar Chavez Elem.School, grade 6preliminary

County Bee PronouncerSheryl MisenhimerPrincipal, McKevett Elementary School

County Bee JudgesDr. Trudy T. Arriaga, Superintendent,Ventura Unified School DistrictJohn Moore, Managing Editor,Ventura County StarRobert Emerick, Chief Executive Officer,County Schools Federal Credit UnionRoberta Isaeff, Vice President,Human Resources, SAGE Publications

ManyThanksTo Our Area CoordinatorsJohn LeSuerTopa Topa Elementary School, Area 1Brandee CateVentura Unified School District, Area 2Erin MooneyRio Rosales School, Area 3Cara ComstockBlackstock Junior High School, Area 4Melissa BanuelosSanta Paula Unified School District, Area 5Becky MonkaPleasant Valley School District, Area 6Linda SheridanOak Park Unified School District, Area 7Krista PedersonAcacia Elementary School, Area 8Nikki BlakeLa Reina High School, Area 9Thank you to the 138 school coordinators!Above all, thanks to the students, parentsand teachers fromVentura County whotook part in this year’s Spelling Bee.

Ventura County Star StaffGeorge H. Cogswell, IIIPresident and PublisherMonicaWhiteRegional Director of Marketing,West CoastSu-Lin RubalcavaMarketing ManagerJulie LopezCounty Spelling Bee Coordinator

California State UniversityChannel Islands StaffDr. Richard R. Rush, PresidentNancy Covarrubias GillDirector of Communication & Marketing

The Program6

SPONSORS

Corporate Bee Sponsors

Ventura County Star Spelling BeeEVENT

Monday, March 14, 20116 p.m.

California State University Channel IslandsMalibu Hall 100

PROGRAMWelcome

Spelling Bee RulesSpelling Bee

Awards Ceremony

SAGE Publications

Champion Bee Sponsor

California Lottery

County Schools Federal Credit Union

Partner Bee Sponsors

Ventura CountyOffice of Education

California State UniversityChannel Islands

Childrens Dental Group

Star in Education Foundation

The Spellers 7

Area 1

Area 4

Area 7 Area 7 Area 8 Area 8 Area 9 Area 9

Kevin LuMedea Creek MiddleSchool, grade 8

Alternate:Zayne ElnakaPinecrest SchoolsMoorpark, grade 4

BobbyTatumMATES Charter School,grade 5

Alternate:Edie SussmanRedwood MiddleSchool, grade 8

Hannah ReaganLOMSAA, grade 7

Alternate:Kyle RandelOaks Christian MiddleSchool, grade 7

Area 4 Area 5 Area 5 Area 5 Area 6 Area 6 Area 6

Keri QuemuelBlackstock Junior HighSchool, grade 8

Alternate:Jasmine BlountTierra Vista MiddleSchool, grade 5

Carlos CabreraPiru ElementarySchool, grade 4

Lauren GarciaMupu ElementarySchool, grade 5

Alternate:LukeMyersFillmore Middle School,grade 6

Shane SpechtLa MariposaElementary School,grade 5

Robert MummeryMesa UnionElementary School,grade 7

Lauren HallMonte Vista MiddleSchool, grade 8

Area 1 Area 2 Area 2 Area 2 Area 3 Area 3 Area 3

DylanMcEttrickMatilija Junior HighSchool, grade 7

Alternate:Alana AdelmanMatilija Junior HighSchool, Grade 7

Michelle PabloOur Lady ofAssumption School,grade 8

Cianna CaliaVentura MissionarySchool, grade 6

Alternate:Jocelyn BrossiaJunipero Serra Elem.School, grade 4

Athena GironSanta Clara ElementarySchool, grade 7

Martina ReyesRio Vista MiddleSchool, grade 8

Alternate:Ashley CarpioRio Del Valle JuniorHigh School

Darlene KabigtingAnsgar Larsen Elem.School, grade 4astigmatism

Amy LovittNorman R Brekke Elem.School, grade 6waltz

JuanMartinezSunkist ElementarySchool, grade 6whisperer

KarenMartinsonSan Antonio Elem.School, grade 6cytoplasm

DylanMcEttrickMatilija Junior HighSchool, grade 7persimmon

Connor McIntoshPierpont ElementarySchool, grade 5hydrant

AniahMckenzieMarinaWest Elem.School, grade 6inoculate

Kevin LuMedea Creek MiddleSchool, grade 8unnecessarily

Horacio LujanRio Plaza ElementarySchool, grade 3celery

Brandon LyonsRio Lindo ElementarySchool, grade 5cosmetic

HannahMachBrookside ElementarySchool, grade 5gingivitis

NoaMahoneyAnacapa MiddleSchool, grade 6jicama

Louis ManzanoTierra Linda School,grade 5biscotti

Edilberto MartinezRio Real ElementarySchool, grade 5harvest

Emily KinnamanACHEV, grade 6surmountable

Angela KinstlerPinecrest Schools T.O.,grade 6ultramarine

Samantha LabnowChristian AcademicSupport Assoc., gr. 8counterclockwise

Raquelin LemusOlivelands School,grade 4tasteless

Ashlyn LindsaySanta Clara Elem.School (priv.), grade 5solicit

Sonia LinSanta Rosa Tech. Mag-net School, gr. 8espionage

Sofia Lo PianoJuanamaria Elem.School, grade 4raspberry

School Winners8

Kloey JohnsonElmhurst ElementarySchool, grade 5hunger

Soleil JonesJuan Soria Elem.School, grade 6nepotism

Emily JordanTrinity Pacific ChristianSchool, grade 8thorax

Connor JohnsonThe Grace Academy,grade 6establishment

MidoriGolden Valley CharterSchool, grade 6annexation

Wonjune JongHollywood BeachElem. School, grade 6gimmick

MeganMoralesCypress ElementarySchool, grade 5handsome

Jessica NiccumGood ShepherdLutheran School, gr. 8penalty

Citlali PlazaOur Lady ofGuadalupe, grade 5raspberry

Martina ReyesRio Vista MiddleSchool, grade 8gigabyte

Christian RubioBlanchard Elem.School, grade 5fortnight

Mayra RuizMira Monte Elem.School, grade 5narrate

Abby RunyanMeiners Oaks Elem.School, grade 4preliminary

Anais SalinasSt. Paschal BaylonSchool, grade 5pedicure

Labiba SardarMound ElementarySchool, grade 4silhouette

Christopher SeagravesMesa Verde MiddleSchool, grade 6hexagonal

Robert ShepardRio Del Norte Elem.School, grade 4crocodile

Keri QuemuelCharles BlackstockJunior High, grade 8kinesiology

Bianca QuinteroSomis ElementarySchool, grade 8peaceful

Bryce SaldajenoWeathersfield Elem.School, grade 5nestle

Kyle RandelOaks Christian School,grade 7resplendence

Hannah ReaganLOMSAA, grade 7colony

Victoria ReichertPleasant ValleyChristian School, gr. 8unchangeable

Danyelle ReyesRose Avenue Elem.School, grade 5castle

Julia O’BrienSt. Mary MagdalenSchool, grade 8pedicure

Kevin OchoaPoinsettia Elem.School, grade 5navigator

Olivia OrdinChaparral MiddleSchool, grade 8bereavement

Cristina OrozcoSt. Sebastian School,grade 8enzyme

Michelle PabloOur Lady of theAssumption, grade 8bombastic

Tanushree PalSacred Heart Elem.School, grade 5effervescent

Iridian PinedaEmilie Ritchen Elem.School, grade 6complimentary

Robert MummeryMesa Union Elem.School, grade 7hemisphere

Angelina MurilloIsbell Middle School,grade 6grievance

LukeMyersFillmore Middle School,grade 6nonnegotiable

Tiffanie NguyenRio Rosales School,grade 5incendiary

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HaleyMooreKing’s Academy,grade 6sashay

Georgia MoraGrace S Thille Elem.School, grade 5indigenous

AlexaMoralesUniv. Prep. School atCSUCI, grade 5biscotti

School Winners10

Aline Silva RodriguesBlanche ReynoldsElem. School, grade 3mermaid

BobbyTatumMATES ElementarySchool, grade 5suffrage

MasonWallerEl Descanso School,grade 5planetary

FeliciaWangOak Hills ElementarySchool, grade 5rodeo

KarenWatlingLincoln ElementarySchool, grade 5quaint

Herman ZhengTopa Topa Elem.School, grade 6saxophone

Eric ZhongColina Middle School,grade 6innermost

Robert TeranSheridanWay Elem.School, grade 5burrito

Claire TherriaultUniv. Charter MiddleSchool at CSUCI, gr. 7variegated

MadisonThompsonThe Phoenix RanchSchool, grade 7journalism

David TomMary Law PrivateSchool, grade 5quadrilateral

VeraniaValdezNorma HarringtonElem. School, grade 5narrate

Emily van DeinseLoma Vista Elem.School, grade 5pedicure

JaydenVeaSaticoy ElementarySchool, grade 5fortification

Jordan SmartLas Colinas MiddleSchool, grade 7sanitary

Perida SophiaSt. Rose of LimaSchool, grade 5millennium

Miguela SorianoLas Posas School,grade 4quotient

Nathaly SotoE P Foster ElementarySchool, grade 5grammarian

Shane SpechtLa Mariposa Elem.School, grade 5herbivore

Edie SussmanRedwood MiddleSchool, grade 8malleable

Daniel TagulaoRobert J Frank Inter.School, grade 7planetary

Cole MillerCitrus Glen Elem.School, grade 5nostril

Alanis MolinaThelma Bedell Elem.School, grade 4courage

MatthewMichalekMadrona ElementarySchool, grade 5monstrosity

Winning Words 11Area 1 DylanMcEttrick, winning word“impervi-ous.”This word is from Latin. An adjective – notallowing entrance or passage through: impen-etrable. Ted covered thewoodpilewith a tarpimpervious towater.

Area 2 Cianna Calia, winning word“chimichan-ga.” This word is from Spanish. A noun – a tortillawrapped around a filling (as of meat) and deep-fried. Carla’s chimichanga contained amixture ofchicken,mushrooms, and cheese.

Area 2Michelle Pablo, winning word“sukiyaki.”This word is from Japanese. A noun –meat,soybean curd, onions, bamboo shoots, and othervegetables cooked in soy sauce, sake, and sugar.Joycewatchedwith fascination as the Japanesecook prepared sukiyaki right at the table.

Area 3Martina Reyes, winning word“Esperanto.”This word is from a Polish name. A noun – an arti-ficial international language based as far as pos-sible uponwords common to the chief Europeanlanguages.Words in Esperanto are always pro-nouncedwith the primary accent on the next-to-last syllable, and every letter is always pronounced– alwayswith the same sound.

Area 3 Athena Giron, winning word“tourna-ment.”This word is from a French word that thenbecame English. A noun – a trial of skill in whichmany contestants compete for championship ina series of elimination contests. Laszlowon firstplace in the state chess tournament.

Area 4 Keri Quemuel, winning word“grotesque-ness.” This word is from French. A noun – thequality or state of being comically incongruousor ridiculously ugly. Each horrormovie seems to betrying to outdo the others in grotesqueness.

Area 5 Lauren Garcia, winning word“olympiad.”This word is fromGreek. A noun – one of thefour-year intervals between Olympian games bywhich time was reckoned in ancient Greece. It iswidely thought that the first olympiad began in 776B.C.

Area 5 Carlos Cabrera, winning word“propagan-da.” This word is from Latin. A noun – dissemi-nation of ideas, information, or rumor for the pur-pose of helping or injuring an institution, a cause,or a person. In 1941 President Roosevelt warnedthat the democratic way of life was being assailedby secret spreading of poisonous propaganda.

Area 6 Shane Specht, winning word“magnolia.”This word is from a French name that then wentto Latin. A noun – any tree or shrub of a genus ofNorth American and Asian shrubs and trees thathave entire evergreen or deciduous leaves andusually showywhite, yellow, rose, or purple flow-ers appearing in early spring. The blossomof themagnolia is similar to some of the oldest blossomsin the fossil record.

Area 6 Robert Mummery, winning word“an-droid.” This word is fromGreek. A noun – an

automation of human form. Rolf was cast as anandroid in the college’s spring production.

Area 7 Kevin Lu, winning word“barrow.” Thisword is originally English. A noun – a vehicle witha single wheel suspended between the ends oftwo shafts that support a boxlike body and serveas handles at the rear.Desmond returned from thefieldwith his barrow filledwith carrots.

Area 8 Bobby Tatum,winning word“olympiad.”See Area 5.

Area 9 Hannah Reagan, winning word“prodigal.”The first part of this word is from an originallyLatin word, and the second part is an Englishcombining form. An adjective – given to recklessextravagance: unrestrained in spending or usingup one’s means. Victor haswritten amemoir of hisprodigal youth in Europe.

Joseph A. Garcia/The StarKeri Quemuel, an eighth grader at Blackstock Junior High School, competes in an early round during the Area 4spelling bee on Feb. 9 at E.O. Green Junior High School. Quemuel won by spelling “grotesqueness.”