Stanwood Elementary student wins Greensburg Rotary's annual spelling bee on a tough word

Riley Beckett, a third grader at Stanwood Elementary School, has been relentlessly practicing her older brother Luke’s spelling list since she was in first grade.

“She could spell any word since she was 6,” said her mother, Joanna Beckett.

Combining her hours of practice with her love for reading, Riley Beckett won the Greensburg Rotary Club’s 17th annual spelling bee Thursday night.

About 30 third grade champions from each elementary school in the Greensburg Salem and Hempfield Area districts and Aquinas Academy competed for the title of overall champion.

Riley Beckett was awarded a plaque, and Stanwood Elementary will receive a trophy to display in honor of the win.

She will be awarded a tablet at a Rotary luncheon and will move onto the Rotary’s regional spelling bee the first weekend of June at Seven Springs. Each participant got a certificate and a “goodie bag.”

Dr. Bill Pfeifer, president of the Greensburg Rotary Club, said this event is the culmination of a project from the fall when the Rotary gifted the third graders with dictionaries.

“We are trying to do our best to support the youth,” Preifer said. “We are trying to educate children.”

Lenni Nedley, director of curriculum and federal programs for Greensburg Salem School District, said she sees how excited the students get each year for this event.

“It’s good to integrate with the other school districts around and see other students nervous and excited,” Nedley said.

Parents and teachers clapped and “awwwed” as the children took the stage.

Throughout the first four rounds, majority of the contestants remained, overcoming words such as “race,” “butter,” and “material.”

It was the fifth round that stumped six of the students with words such as “industrious,” “adequate” and “enthusiastic.”

Some third graders fidgeted in their seats from nerves, while others like Alice Dunst from Maxwell Elementary School jumped up out of their seat each time it was their turn.

The spelling bee went into a bonus round until two remained. Beckett came out on top with the word “rhombus.”

Katie Nowicki, a third grade teacher from Hutchinson Elementary School, came to proudly support her students. She has been able to see how hard her students worked in the classroom.

“This is the beginning of them showing off their skills in academics,” Nowicki said.

Correction: Dr. Bill Pfeifer’s name was misspelled in the original story. Note: This story also has been updated to reflect that Lenni Nedley is director of curriculum and federal programs for Greensburg Salem School District.