2008 Spelling Bee

The Oswego Rotary Club, along with The Palladium-Times, Alliance Bank, and Pathfinder Bank sponsored the Regional Spelling Bee for 2008, held at Oswego High School, March first. Coordinator of the event was Debra Robillard, managing editor of The Palladium-Times. Bruce Frassinelli, past governor of Rotary District 7150 and retired publisher of The Palladium-Times, served as master of ceremonies for the seventeenth year. Bruce was recognized for his long leadership of the spelling bee since he will be moving away from the area later this year. Vernon Tryon of the Oswego Rotary Club was pronouncer and Patricia Devendorf, English teacher at Oswego High School, served as judge. Other Oswego Rotarians who assisted with the program were Bill Crist, club president; Sabine Ingerson; Tom Ingram; Shawn Seale; Melanie Trexler; and Randy Zeigler. Last year’s regional winner, Haley Annal, offered advice to the spellers and spoke to the audience about her experience at the national competition in Washington, D.C.

Barbara Bateman, regional manager of Alliance Bank; Will O’Brien of Pathfinder Bank; and Bill Crist, president of Oswego Rotary Club spoke briefly to the audience.

Thirty students from the Oswego City School District elementary and middle schools, Trinity Catholic School, and Oswego Community Christian School qualified at their local spelling bees to compete in the regional bee at Oswego High School.

Jacob Annal, seventh grader from Oswego Middle School emerged the winner of the 2008 Regional Spelling Bee. He successfully spelled the words oratorio and nemesis to clinch the title and claim the trophy. Jacob is the brother of last year’s winner, Haley. Shown on the left in green shirt, is Robert Zeigler, seventh grader from Oswego Community Christian School, who was the first runner-up, having slipped up on the word oratorio. On the right is Debra Robillard, managing editor of The Palladium-Times.

Bruce Frassinelli, spelling bee master of ceremonies for the past seventeen years explained the rules and procedures of the bee to the audience. He also thanked the sponsors–The Palladium-Times, Alliance Bank, Pathfinder Bank, and the Oswego Rotary Club–for their support of the spelling bee. Shown in lower left is Vernon Tryon, pronouncer, and Patricia Devendorf, judge.

Concentration and determination are on the faces of spellers as they watch the action and await their turns at the microphone.