Boucher wins Hill County Spelling Bee, advances to state bee

Havre Daily News staff

The 57th Hill County Spelling Bee was one for the records, Hill County Superintendent of Schools Vicki Proctor said, with competition going 27 rounds as the top three contestants fought for the privilege to represent Hill County at the Treasure State Spelling Bee March 9 on the Montana State University campus in Bozeman.

Havre Middle School eighth grader Riley Boucher won the bee and will represent Hill County at the state bee in Bozeman.

Second-place finisher Piper Larson, a St. Jude Thaddeus School fifth grader, is the alternate for the Treasure State Bee.

Havre Middle School sixth-grader Risa Hileman took third.

The county bee saw 66 students and 12 alternates at the competition that started in the Havre Middle School Assembly Room Thursday at 9 a.m.

The winners also received a medal and Chamber of Commerce gift certificates provided by Independence Bank, with Boucher receiving $50 for first place, Larson $30 for second and Hileman getting $20 for third.

Proctor said Hill County Schools participating, and their administrators or advisors, were: St. Jude's, Principal Katie Kopps; Cottonwood, Monica Mattson; Sunnyside, Principal Pax Haslem; Box Elder, Principal Shiloh Seymour; Gildford Colony, Noel Kruse; Havre Middle School, Principal Curt Leeds; North Star, Jessica Myers; and Rocky Boy, Donald Cox.

Proctor thanked the officials who made the event possible, host Diane McLean; Pronouncer of Words Marie Deegan; judges Marge Suek, Jake Strissel and Jackie Hanson; registration officials Julie Monson and Sandy Wilson; Char Sticka for management of rounds information, and Havre Middle School Principal Curt Leeds and Havre Middle School head janitor Ian Munson.