Hill County Spelling Bee set for Thursday

Press release

The 56th Annual Hill County Spelling Bee will be held Thursday, Feb. 9, at 9 a.m. in the Havre Middle School Assembly Room.

To prepare for this year’s competition, Hill County schools held their district spelling bees and, collectively, 68 champion spellers and 18 alternates are representing these schools.

The annual contest is open to fourth through eighth grade students and this year’s winner will represent Hill County at the 2023 Treasure State Spelling Bee held Saturday, March 11, at 1 p.m. in the Strand Union Building on the Montana State University campus in Bozeman.

The Hill County top three winners will receive a medal and a Chamber of Commerce gift certificate sponsored by Independence Bank. First prize: $50 gift certificate and medal; second prize, $35 gift certificate and medal; and third prize, $20 gift certificate and medal.

This year’s word pronouncer will be Jackie Hanson. She will be assisted by Spelling Bee judges Marie Deegan, Jake Strissel and Carol Pleninger. Other event officials are Julie Monson, Jane Maxwell and Sheri Williams. Special help has been provided by Havre Middle School Principal Curt Leeds and Head of Maintenance Brent King.

Guests are invited and encouraged to attend.

Those students representing Hill County Schools, including their grade level when provided by their schools, are:

Box Elder Elementary

Bryan Harvey, sixth; Landen King, sixth; Nevaeh Belcourt, eighth; Raydon Whalawitsa, eighth; Kailynn Gopher, sixth; David Morsette, eighth; Elyssa Rosette, seventh; Margarita Moreno, sixth; Ahasiw Baker, sixth; Alivia Sangrey, fourth; alternates, Braydon Wolf Chief, eighth; Arianna Henry, eighth; Braydee Watson, seventh; Noah MacDonald, sixth; Jayd’ll Parisian, 6th

Cottonwood West

Demitri Rencurel, seventh; alternate, Sirus Cuts the Rope, eighth

Cottonwood North

Addi Vaughn, sixth; alternate, Rachel Liddle, fourth

Davey School

  Lucile LeBlanc, fourth; alternate, Hunter Gormley, seventh

Gildford Colony Elementary School

Cobey Stahl, eighth; alternate, Tristan Stahl, sixth

Havre Middle School

  Kelsie Acor, Mackenzie Adkins, Evan Alisch, Marin Alisch, Kelly Awtrey, Grayden Blackwell, Riley Boucher, Liv Cotr, Kaleb Everly, Chloe Harber, Camille Hunt, Branch Jackson, Camden Jackson, Reese Kacher, Landon Kinsella, David Knutsen, Rhett Komrosky, Kerrington Kraske, Keyon Roberts, Jermayne Saddler, Aden Shandorf, Katie Tilleman, Ishaan Vikas, Genevieve Waltner, Kreedence WindyBoy-Rider, alternates, Koltin Peltier, Gabrielle Bear

North Star School

Samantha Molenda, Josie Stevenson, Colwyn Haney, Kaylee Horel

Rocky Boy Schools

Ryan Johnson, Nitanis Houle, Raleigh Gopher, Ava Small, Casson Rock, Gabe Whiskey Jack, Jayarri Demontiney, Joey St. Mark, Day Rainingbird, alternates, Jaela Smallboy, Jayla Riototaur, Trinity Crow, Ayana Cantrell

St. Jude Thaddeus School

Julia Hart, sixth; Macsen Maglinao, sixth; Isla Doney, fifth; Moriah Steinmetz, seventh; alternate, Kira Chech, sixth

Sunnyside Intermediate School

Risa Hileman, fifth; Isaac Yost, fifth; Tenlee Hungerford, fifth; Mason Dannen, fifth; Hunter Tweeten, fifth; Jacobi Knoles, fifth; Kaelin Peltier, fifth; Genevieve Lass, fifth; Sidney Farr, fifth; Walter Hibl, fifth; altenate, Charlotte Stoll, 5th