Countdown To The 2013 Regional Spelling Bee

Posted: March 2, 2013

Genevieve Robertson

John Spicer

Layne Stevanus

Editor’s Note: This is the 18th, 19th and 20th of 20 profiles of the contestants in the 2013 Regional Spelling Bee sponsored by the Rockingham District Ruritans and co-sponsored by the Daily News-Record and public television station WVPT. The bee will be held at the WVPT studios in Harrisonburg today. The spellers are competing for a spot in this year’s Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. We will have full coverage of today’s bee in Monday’s paper.

Genevieve Robertson

School: South River Elementary

Grade: Fifth

Age: 10

Born in: Port Republic

Currently lives in: Port Republic

Parents: Matt and Amy Robertson

Favorite subject: Reading. “I love reading because it comes so easily to me.”

Career goals: Teacher. “I like to help kids out.”

Hobbies: “Reading, drawing and writing stories.”

Favorite book or author: “My favorite authors are J.K. Rowling and Rick Riordan. I don’t have a favorite book. My favorite series is Harry Potter” by Rowling.

Spelling secrets: “If you are stuck, write the word with your finger on your hand. Spelling comes easily to me; that is why I like it. I get so good because I practice.”

Interesting facts: “I play the piano. I’ve been to Colorado and I have three sisters and one brother. I am the second-oldest in my family.”

John Spicer

School: Elkton Middle

Grade: Eighth

Age: 13

Born in: Jackson, Miss.

Currently lives in: Elkton

Parents: Bryon and Nancy Spicer.

Favorite Subject: Physical science. “It is very easy to me. I do well and I have a great teacher.”

Career Goals: World War I historian. “I am very interested in World War I history.”

Hobbies: Gaming, reading, biking, designing.

Favorite book or author: “Eragon” by Christopher Paolini.

Spelling Secrets: “Reading. You have to read to spell. And I sound out all words and ask for the word origin.”

Interesting Facts: “I have a knack for interior design. I collect American war books. I play two types of saxophone.”

Anything else you’d like to say to DN-R readers: “Good luck, spellers.”

Layne Stevanus

School: Cornerstone Christian

Grade: Seventh

Age: 13

Born in: Elkton

Currently lives in: Elkton

Parents: Mark and Sondra Stevanus

Winning or, if runner-up, misspelled word in district bee: Contemporaneous (spelled correctly in district bee)

Favorite Subject: Civics. “I live to learn about the government and how it works.”

Career Goals: Cartographer. “I like to draw maps.”

Hobbies: Drawing and making maps.

Favorite book or author: “How the States got their Shapes” by Mark Stein.

Spelling Secrets: “You have to control what you say.”

Interesting Facts: “I’ve been to 24 states and Mexico.”

Anything else you’d like to say to DN-R readers: “I’m a Christian and was baptized two years ago.”