Mohave Student Wins SUSD Spelling Bee
Ashley Gilmore Moves on to Regional Competition

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (January 27, 2006) – Mohave Middle School eighth grader Ashley Gilmore is the winner of Scottsdale Unified School District’s 2006 District Spelling Bee.

Family members gathered at the Scottsdale Civic Center Library as 29 elementary and middle school students from across the district competed for the title of district champion.

Ashley and 3rd grader Navya Dasari of Cheyenne Traditional School were the final two spellers. Ashley was declared the winner after spelling the words o-p-h-t-h-a-l-m-i-c and d-i-s-a-f-f-o-r-e-s-t.

The top seven competitors from the District Bee move on to the Regional Spelling Bee next month in Fountain Hills.

Five other students will join Ashley and Navya representing SUSD:

Jan Simper – Desert Canyon Elementary
Aditya Vijay – Sequoya Elementary
Alexandria Baietto – Copper Ridge Middle
Rachel Parker – Desert Canyon Middle
Todd Simonson – Mountainside Middle

The Arizona State Spelling Bee will be held April 1, 2006 at Arizona State University and the National Spelling Bee is May 29th in Washington, D.C.

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