2016 Spelling Bee Supplement by The Washington Informer

34th Annual Washington Informer Spelling Bee Supplement 34TH ANNUAL W.I. SPELLING BEE SUPPLEMENT

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districts, where the majority of the student population is African American, students who might otherwise be eligible to participate in the spelling bee would be precluded from doing so if the white-owned daily newspaper elected not to sponsor the local bee. Dr. Rolark called in his legal counsel and wife, Wilhelmina J. Rolark, who threatened Scripps with an injunction that would forbid the national competition to take place in the District of Columbia until the court ruled on the merits of the case alleging discrimination. Scripps complied, and changed its rules to allow weekly newspaper sponsorship in the national competition. That year, the Loudon County Times, a weekly newspaper based in Loudon County, Virginia and the only other weekly newspaper to participate along with the Informer in the national spelling bee that year, produced the national spelling bee winner. Each year, more than 2,000 students enrolled in nearly 200 D.C. schools, including private, parochial, independent, charter and homeschools, participate in The Washington Informer City-Wide Spelling Bee. For the past 33 years, the City-Wide Spelling Bee has been held at the studios of NBC4, where it is taped and later aired for general viewership throughout the Washington metropolitan area.

The Washington Informer began sponsoring the D.C. Wide Spelling Bee during the 1981-82 school years. The late Dr. Mary E. White, supervising director, D.C. Public Schools Division of Instructional Services, Department of English, sought participation for D.C. Public Schools students in the Scripps National Spelling Bee held annually in Washington, D.C. Many years prior, The Washington Daily News sponsored the local spelling bee. Subsequently, The Washington Star purchased the Daily News, and ceased sponsorship of the spelling bee. For more Purpose than 15 years, District of Columbia public, private and parochial school Scripps, a diversified multi-media company, established the students could not participate in the national competition for lack of a National Spelling Bee to help students improve their spelling, increase sponsoring newspaper. their vocabulary, learn concepts, and develop correct English that will Dr. White solicited support from the Washington Post, hopeful that help them all their lives. Spellers experience the satisfaction of learning the publisher would agree to become the District’s official sponsor. language not only for the sake of correct spelling but also for the sake According to Dr. White, Post officials told her that since the daily of cultural and intellectual literacy. newspaper was a regional publication; their sponsorship would have to The Washington Informer’s participation in Scripps National include not only the District of Columbia, but suburban Maryland and Spelling Bee helps to further the goals of Scripps in the District of Virginia, as well. However, at that time, the Journal newspaper chain Columbia and to address the issue of illiteracy, particularly among had served as the suburban sponsor for several years, resulting in the African American youth. “If we want to improve the quality of life for all Post’s refusal to sponsor the bee solely for students enrolled in District Americans,” said the late Dr. Calvin W. Rolark, publisher, “then we must schools. begin by teaching our children to read, which they will not be able to Dr. White then appealed to Dr. Calvin W. Rolark, a friend and achieve until they can learn to spell.” s supporter of the D.C. Public Schools, president and founder of the United Black Fund, Inc. and publisher of The Washington Informer newspaper, to exercise his influence over the Post This year marks officials and persuade them to agree to sponsor the spelling the 33rd year the bee ha bee. However, as publisher of a weekly newspaper, which served s been hosted and taped at N BC 4. News more than 25,000 readers in the District of Columbia, Maryland Anchors Erica Gonzalez and Virginia, Dr. Rolark volunteered his publication to serve and David Cul ver hosted th e bee for the se as the sponsor. With that, he brought in his daughter, Denise cond consecutive year . Rolark, managing editor of The Washington Informer, to assist in coordinating the District’s first spelling bee along with Dr. White and other D.C. Public Schools officials. The first city-wide spelling bee was held at Backus Junior High School in March, 1982. The winner was a sixth grade student, John Krattenmaker, who attended Mann Elementary School. Unbeknownst to Dr. Rolark, John was not permitted to participate in the Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee held the r of ComNBC4 Directo following May because The Washington Informer was not a daily s and Spellmunity Affair er Kerwin newspaper, a requirement of the Scripps National Spelling. ing Bee Produc ashington W h Dr. Rolark, who was a member of the board of the National Speight wit isher Informer Publ Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), a trade organization of nes. ar B k Denise Rolar nearly 200 African American-owned newspapers across the country, concluded that the national spelling bee was maintaining an inherently discriminatory policy that prohibited African American newspapers from participating in the National Spelling Bee since there are no African American-owned daily newspapers in the U.S. In urban school

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34TH ANNUAL W.I. SPELLING BEE SUPPLEMENT

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s r e n n i W r u O t e

Washington Informer Spelling Bee winners: Anina Holley, 4th place; Perrin Brady,2nd place; William Cho, 1st place and Harrison Hackett, 3rd place.

THE MALPRACTICE LAW FIRM JACK H. OLENDER & ASSOCIATES, P.C.

Congratulates First Place William Cho St Albans School 8th grade

Attorney Jack H Olender, with Washingto n Informer Publisher Denise Rolark Barnes and Director of Marketin g Ron Burke, is a long time supporter of The Washington Informer Spell ing Bee and gives cash prizes to the winners each year. (photo by Shevry Lassi ter)

Informer airline sponsor of Washington Southwest Airlines, the official Joanna up; ner run dy, ets to Perrin Bra Charities, gave round trip tick , winner. Cho liam Wil and ; ator Coordin Benjamin, DCPS Spelling Bee

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Second Place Perrin Brady Washington Latin Public Charter 8th Grade

Third Place Harrison Hackett Hyde-Addison Elementary 5th Grade Fourth Place Anina Holley John Eaton Elementary 4th Grade

And all of the 34th Annual Washington Informer Spelling Bee Participants 888 17th St., N.W., 4th Floor, Washington, D.C. 20006 www.olender.com (202) 879-7777 FAX (202) 393-224

34TH ANNUAL W.I. SPELLING BEE SUPPLEMENT APRIL 14- 20, 2016 S-3

Bank of America supports The Washington Informer Charities for helping children step into the future Before a young person takes the first step in life’s journey, you wonder where will she go? What will he do? Who will she become? There’s nothing more important than nurturing the promise of every child. Bank of America recognizes The Washington Informer Charities for focusing on the future, one young person at a time. Visit us at bankofamerica.com/local Life’s better when we’re connected®

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Prize Table

All of the spellers received trophies courtesy of Champion Trophy in DC. They have provided the trophies for over 15 years.

o i d u t S ” s s e r P e h t t e “Me er The Washington Inform ss Pre NBC’s Meet The

Spelling Bee tapes in the

same studio as

JOIN US AT NATIONALS PARK Saturday, April 23, 2016 1:05 PM

The Washington Nationals are proud to host all of the spellers and recognize the top finalists from the 34th Annual Washington Informer Spelling Bee.

The top spellers will be honored at home plate before the game! Please join us for a day of fun and fellowship at Nats Park. Congratulations to all of the Washington Informer Spelling Bee Participants

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34TH ANNUAL W.I. SPELLING BEE SUPPLEMENT APRIL 14- 20, 2016 S-5

THE AWARD WINNING AFRICAN AMERICAN NEWSPAPER

T FAMILY CATERING

We consider each and every finalist to be a winner, and our sponsors and partners have helped us to reward every one of them. We humbly ask that you support our sponsors, partners, and advertisers.

THERS DAY 2016SPECIAL Spelling Bee

2016 Prize List

Sponsors and Partners

First Place Winner: • First Place Trophy – courtesy by Champion Trophy • Four Tickets anywhere Southwest Airlines flies – courtesy of Southwest Air • Check for $1000 – courtesy of Jack H. Olender and Associates • Hotel stay for the National Bee at The Gaylord – courtesy of The Washington Informer • Washington Nationals tickets • Invitation to be honored at Home Plate of a Nationals game and a meet and greet with a player and Screech. • Giant gift card • Washington Informer gift bag

*$16 a person

Bank of America Coca Cola Roast Beef Champion Trophy Fried and Baked Chicken Mashed Potatoes Comcast Gravy DC Public Schools The Foundation Vegetable Medley for the Advancement of Music & Education Inc. (FAME) Dessert Giant Food Punch Paper Jack wareH Olender and Associates NBC4 Pepco 5 person minimum* Tax and delivery extra* Southwest Air Washington Nationals For more information, callWGL

Second Place Winner: • Second Place Trophy – courtesy of Champion Trophy • Check for $500 – courtesy of Jack H. Olender and Associates • Invitation to be honored at Home Plate of a Nationals game and a meet and greet with a player and Screech. • Washington Nationals tickets • Giant gift card • Washington Informer gift bag Third Place Winner: • Third Place Trophy – courtesy of Champion Trophy • Check for $300 – courtesy of Jack H. Olender and Associates • Invitation to be honored at Home Plate of a Nationals game and a meet and greet with a player and Screech. • Washington Nationals tickets • Giant gift card • Washington Informer gift bag

202-722-5003 Lunch was provided by Gist Family Catering 7816 Eastern Ave NW Washington DC 20011 202-722-5003 Please feel free to contact The Washington Informer with any questions, concerns, suggestions for next year, or if you would like to personally thank any of our sponsors. Denise Rolark Barnes, Publisher Ron Burke, Advertising and Marketing Director The Washington Informer 3117 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave SE Washington DC 20032 202-888-6835 rburke@washingtoninformer.com

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All other finalists: • Finalist Trophy – courtesy of Champion Trophy • Washington Nationals tickets • Giant gift card • Washington Informer gift bag with assorted items from sponsors

The Washington Informer 3117 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave SE Washington DC 20032 202-888-6835 rburke@washingtoninformer.com

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The promise of tomorrow...

...begins today! WGL is a proud sponsor of the 2016 Washington Informer Spelling Bee. WGL understands that our responsibilities donâ€™t end with serving our customers. We are committed to enhance the quality of life throughout our entire community. To learn more, visit us at wgl.com.

We are: www.wgl.com #askwgl

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34TH ANNUAL W.I. SPELLING BEE SUPPLEMENT APRIL 14- 20, 2016 S-7

Comcast is proud to support the 2016 Washington Informer Spelling Bee

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34TH Job ANNUAL W.I. SPELLING BEE APRILLine 14-Screen: 20, 85 2016 S-9 Bleed:SUPPLEMENT 11.25" x 14.75" No: fz6436a01.indd Client Name: Fitzgerald Description: Gold Star Publication: Trade Union Center

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Eighth Grader Will Represent District at National Bee

By Sarafina Wright WI Staff Writer A Battle Royale came down to the wire in the final minutes of The Washington Informer’s 34th Annual Spelling Bee between three of the District’s brightest stand-out spellers. Thirty-four contestants competed during the taped competition on Saturday, March 19 for approximately 25 rounds at NBC 4 studios in Northwest. Until this year the bee was open to students in grades 4 – 8, but the entry rules were changed this year which allowed third grader Elsa Boehm to compete. William Cho, an 8th grader at St. Albans School in Northwest, spelled the winning word “revendicate” correctly, making him the spelling bee champion of the District. He immediately went to his mother, his biggest supporter, for a congratulatory hug.

“It was pretty lucky for me,” William ho said of the contentious last rounds of the Bee. “I came in second last year, so I really wanted to try to win this year.” For his victory William received four plane tickets courtesy of Southwest Airlines, a check for $1,000 sponsored by Jack H. Olender and Associates, a Giant grocery store gift card and a Washington Informer gift bag. He will also be honored at home base at a Nationals game on Saturday, April 23 along with three of the Bee’s runners up for his achievement. All Spelling Bee participants received tickets for the game. William said that his passion for spelling started long ago. “In the fourth grade I won first place in a spelling bee and I wanted to do it every year since then,” he said. He insisted that his mother’s assistance and studying words during the week after homework and on weekends prepared him for the fierce competition. “My mom really helps me a lot,” William said of his mother Jihyun Le. “I will give the plane tickets to her and I will save the money.” He also thanked important people that couldn’t be there to watch his victory. “I want to thank my grandfather and grandmother in Korea, my father and my coach Mr. Miller,” William said. “He set up everything for me, a word list, pronunciation guide and other things to help me.” To get him prepared for the Scripps National Bee at the Gaylord National Harbor Hotel in May, his mother wants to keep the game winning plan the same. “I will tell him to calm down, slow down and no mistakes,” Le said.

Continued on Next Page

From left - Tracye Funn of Sponsor Washington Gas: 4th Place Anina Holley; Pronouncer Hillary Hpward: 2nd Place Perrin Brady; 1st Place William Cho; DCPS Coordinator Joanna Benjamin: 3rd Place Harrison Hackett: and Washington Informer Publisher Denise Rolark Barnes

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34TH ANNUAL W.I. SPELLING BEE SUPPLEMENT

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School in March of 1982. Sixth grader John Krattenmaker, who attended Mann Elementary School in Northwest, won the competition, but was unable to compete in the National Spelling Bee unbeknownst to Dr. Rolark. The newspaper was not a weekly publication and at the time Scripps National Spelling required that for eligibility. Dr. Rolark, along with his wife and legal counsel Wilhelmina Rolark, threatened Scripps with an injunction, alleging discrimination because the rule disproportionately affected African-American students. Scripps would soon change their rules and that year the Loudon County Times, a weekly newspaper in Virginia, produced the national spelling bee winner. During this year’s competition, Ron Burke, advertising and marketing director for The Washington Informer, told the participants they were all winners and he proved it by giving everyone tickets to a Washington Nationals baseball game courtesy of the organization. Other sponsors this year included: NBC 4, Washington Informer Charities, Bank of America, Champion Award Trophies and Goods, The Coca-Cola Company, Comcast, District of Columbia Public Schools, Foundation for the Advancement of Music and Education, Giant, Pepco, National Spelling Bee, Southwest Airlines and WGL. “We’re happy to sponsor this Spelling Bee – we do this every year because we absolutely love working with the children and the community,” Burke said. “Dr. Calvin Rolark said you will never make it in this world if you don’t know how to read, and you’ll never know how to read if you don’t know how to spell.” s The kids take the competition very seriously. Speller Airiel Wright is comforted by her dad after misspelling a word.

Continued from Previous Page “He really likes spelling and it’s one of his best events. He will learn a lot of words and its history and that might help.” Joanna Benjamin of District of Columbia Public Schools coordinated the Spelling Bee for schools, students and the cluster bee’s before the main event. “This is something that is very useful in terms of developing their language skills and it deals with orthography,” Benjamin said. “They are able to fine tune their language skills and use it not only in this competition but lifelong.” The president and general manager of NBC 4, Jackie Bradford, said the company has been a part of the Bee for decades and will continue the partnership. “We love our community. We love our students and The Washington Informer,” Bradford said. “We’ve been a part of the Bee for 33 of the 34 years and we’re a big believer in competition.” “For the kids to have to work hard, compete and win or lose gracefully is a result of their hard work.” The Washington Informer began sponsoring the D.C.-wide Spelling Bee during the 1981-82 school year after The Washington Daily News was purchased causing them to cease their sponsorship. Dr. Calvin Rolark, founder of The Washington Informer, was eventually approached to have his weekly newspaper sponsor the Bee to which he agreed, enlisting the help of his daughter, Denise Rolark Barnes, then managing editor. The first city-wide Spelling Bee was held at Backus Junior High

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The 34th Annual Washington Informer Spelling Bee will be shown on NBC 4 on Sunday April 17, 2016 at noon.

Many different techniques were used. Rebecca Khoury spells the word in her hand.

Third grader Elsa Boehm the youngest speller is greeted by Tracye Funn of Washington Gas and a DCPS representative. She made history as the first third grader to compete.

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s e h c a o C g n i l l e Sp Essential for Young Spellers

Teachers Dedicate Time to Helping Students

By Sarafina Wright WI Staff Writer For young competitive spellers, spelling coaches play a pivotal role in their success. Often overlooked, these men and women assist youth in getting to the biggest stage of their young lives. John Thomas Miller, a science teacher at St. Albans School in Northwest, whose pupil, William Cho, won the city-wide spelling bee on Saturday, March 19 and will go on to compete at the Scripps National Bee in May, shied away from taking the credit for his student’s achievement. Instead he claimed William has always been gifted. “I give all the credit to the students who are dedicated to wanting to do well,” Miller said. “William would finish his homework, then study his words with his mom assisting him.” “There was a point in the competition where you could see where they [announcer] went off the list, because they [competitors] started to stumble,” he said. “They had to rely on a whole lot of skill and a little bit of luck.” Last year as Miller’s first time as a spelling coach two of his students, William Cho and Andrew Wu, placed second and tied for third. He said the practice for their performance was simple. “I would give the boys a list that Scripps provides that helps them focus on origin and pronunciation and they would go off on their own and study,” Miller said. He believes the students he coaches have talent, but it’s their drive that enables them to succeed. “The students who end up making it to the finals have a gift, yes, but they want it,” he said. “They are just really smart, motivated children.” Miller came to St. Albans School four years ago as a lower school science teacher teaching fourth through sixth grade. Two years ago he had the idea that students at his school have what it takes to compete in the national spelling bee. “I asked the person who was organizing the bee at our school if we could participate in Scripps and they said yes,” he said. Miller said his motivation to become involved came from own his love of spelling bees. “I’ve always loved the spelling bee,” he said. “Maybe it comes from my own lack of ability to spell that attracts me.” Miller previously taught high school physics where he didn’t get the opportunity to be a spelling coach. “I saw a documentary titled ‘Spellbound’ which really introduced me to the world of spelling bees,” he said. “That was around the time it took off in popularity and ESPN started to air it, so I’ve been following the

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national bee for about 12 years now.” Miller said he hopes to attend the big competition in May and that William will keep his same routine. “Will has a real patience. When given a word he will listen and he will automatically ask a question,” he said. “It gives him time to spell the question in his head. A lot of the kids competing will also have some type of routine.” Rita Scott, an alumnus of Anacostia Senior High School and a reading intervention teacher at Brent Elementary School in Southeast, began her involvement in competitive spelling several years ago. “I was working at Anne Beers Elementary School in Southeast as a substitute teacher and volunteered to coordinate the spelling bee for the school,” Scott said. “I lived in the neighborhood and really wanted to help out and share any expertise to help improve the learning environment for our students.” Scott received a grant from the Washington Post to purchase a classroom Jeopardy game to help stage a school-wide “Math Madness Competition.” She went on to assist students participating in the Districtbased “Math Counts” competition as well. During her last year as a coach for Brent Elementary School spelling team she said she realized that the most competitive schools all had spelling clubs to help prepare their students and she’s followed suit at Brent. “This year we started with about 25 students in the spelling club but ended up with only about six regularly attending up until the spelling bee competitions,” she said. “Two of those students came in first and second place for the school spelling bee, but because they were only in the third grade they were not eligible to advance to the cluster competitions.” “Last year, one of the students that advanced to the Cluster competition was extremely shy but that didn’t matter – she competed well in the school-wide Spelling Bee surprising everyone including her mother.” This was the first year Brent Elementary had a student advance to the city-wide Spelling Bee and I’m proud that our top spellers represent a diversity of racial and economic backgrounds not often associated with a school on Capitol Hill,” Scott said. “These are the best of the best and understand that effort and commitment will help them to achieve their life dreams.” s John Thomas Miller (r ), with William Cho and his mother Jihyun Le

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Meet the 2016 Spellers all photos by Roy Lewis

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#1 Zinachidi Achikeh St. Augustine Catholic School 5th Grade

#7 Andre Carter Brent Elementary School 5th Grade

#2 Tevin Adams Friendship Public Charter SchoolChamberlain 6th Grade

#8 Siraj Carter Center City Public Charter SchoolShaw Campus 6th Grade

#3 Mikyas Assefa St. Augustine Catholic School 7th Grade

#9 William Cho St. Albans School 8th Grade

#4 Elsa Boehm Capitol Hill Montessori School 3rd Grade

#10 Ruben Dasgupta John Eaton Elementary School 5th Grade

#5 Perrin Brady Washington Latin Public Charter School 8th Grade

#11 Max Funge-Ripley Oyster Adams Bilingual School 4th Grad

#6 Justin Burgon Washington Latin Public Charter School 8th Grade

#12 Donzell Gibson Jr. Hardy Middle School 6th Grade

34TH ANNUAL W.I. SPELLING BEE SUPPLEMENT APRIL 14- 20, 2016 S-13

proud to sponsor the

34TH ANNUAL WASHINGTON INFORMER SPELLING BEE S-14 APRIL 14 - 20, 2016

34TH ANNUAL W.I. SPELLING BEE SUPPLEMENT

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Meet the 2016 Spellers all photos by Roy Lewis

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#13 Harrison Hackett Hyde-Addison Elementary School 5th Grade

#19 Chase Jones Kelly Miller Middle School 7th Grade

#14 Margaret Hankins Basis DC Public Charter School 8th Grade

#20 Eric Johnson Basis DC Public Charter School 8th Grade

#15 Leonardo Hart Center City Public Charter SchoolCongress Heights 4th Grade

#21 Emily Kehoe Holy Trinity School 8th Grade

#16 Anina Holley John Eaton Elementary School 4th Grade

#22 Rebecca Khoury Horace Mann Elementary School 5th Grade

#17 Sydny Horge Takoma Education Campus 5th Grade

#23 Neechi MarupaOmbima St. Albans School 8th Grade

#18 Amelia Johnson Janney Elementary School 5th Grade

#24 Robert Mirabello Washington Latin Public Charter School 7th Grade

34TH ANNUAL W.I. SPELLING BEE SUPPLEMENT APRIL 14- 20, 2016 S-15

pepco.com

INSPIRED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

FOR OUR COMMUNITIES. We salute all contestants as a proud supporter of the 34th Annual Washington Informer Spelling Bee. S-16 APRIL 14 - 20, 2016

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Meet the 2016 Spellers all photos by Roy Lewis

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#25 Chimeremmma Nwokwu Whittier Education Campus 5th Grade

#31 Mahlet Shoarega St. Augustine Catholic School 7th Grade

#26 Amelia Oscherwitz Janney Elementary School 4th Grade

#32 Samuel Taubman Alice Deal Middle School 6th Grade

#27 Marshall Platt West Education Campus 4th Grade

#33 Claire Thorn Lafayette Elementary School 5th Grade

#28 Kate Rodriguez Murch Elementary School 4th Grade

#34 Aidan Urbina St. Albans School 6th Grade

#29 Kevin Rodriguez Center City Public Charter SchoolPetworth 6th Grade

#35 Julia Weinrod Alice Deal Middle School 6th Grade

#30 Eileen Sawyer Holy Trinity School 6th Grade

#36 Ariel Wright Center City Public Charter School- Shaw 5th Grade

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r e c n u o n o r P r u O t Mee – Hillary Howard This was Hillary’s first year as pronouncer of the Washington Informer Spelling Bee Hillary Howard is the afternoon news anchor at WTOP and host of “It’s Academic”, the world’s longest running TV quiz show on NBC4. Originally from New York, she has been working in Washington since her first job at Fox 5 in 1989. She has also worked at WUSA. During her years at WTOP, Hillary has won awards for radio and TV work including Emmys for reporting, writing and even weathercasting. Hillary has earned other awards from the AP, the Society of Professional Journalists, and an Imagen for reporting on Hispanic issues. She was also a finalist in the New York Film and TV Festivals. Hillary is a graduate of New York University with a BA in Journalism, and believes in the power of education and thinks learning should be as revered as celebrity

Meet the Judges 34th Annual The Judges for the Spelling Bee er Washington Inform Mary Davis, were (from left) Ms. rriculum and Cu DCPS Manager of pment; Mrs. JoProfessional Develo PS Manager of anna Benjamin, DC ns and Spelling Reading Interventio . Elizabeth Bee Coordinator; Dr ultant; and Mr ns Primas, Literary Co DCPS DirecDewayne McClary, chnology. Te tor of Educational judge Ms. te na Not shown is alter structor In PS Gleeson Young, DC n. tio Language Acquisi

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Black History Year. You heard it here first. If you ever thought February was too short to celebrate Black history, we think you’re on to something. At Southwest®, we celebrate Black History Month 365 days a year. Through our committed relationships, we proudly support the many communities we call home.

Southwest is the official airline of the Washington Informer Spelling Bee and Washington Informer Charities.

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The Award Winning African American Newspaper Celebrating Our 51st Year of Service

The Washington Informer Congratulates our 34th Annual Washington Informer Spelling Bee Winner!

First Place William Cho St Albans School, 8th grade

34th Annual Spelling Bee

Airing on NBC 4 on Sunday April 17, 2016 at Noon

We celebrate all of our finalists and everyone who helped make our 34th Annual Washington Informer Spelling Bee a huge success.

The Washington Informer Thanks all of our 2016 partners for making this year special

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