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Health & Fitness

Shelby JHS student meets s-u-c-c-e-s-s by capturing county spelling bee

It was ‘déjà vu all over again’ as Shelby Junior High seventh grader Nate Britton emerged the winner at the 2014 Macomb County Regional Spelling Bee for the second time in three years.

After more than three nail-biting hours for family and friends in the audience, cool-headed Nate finished off the last of his 64 competitors by correctly spelling ‘sanitize’ – a word he’ll likely never forget. 

As the county’s best youth speller, Nate earned a trip to compete at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington D.C. in May. He will be joined by some 290 regional fifth through eighth grade winners from across the U.S. and several other nations from as far away and Japan and South Korea.
For Nate, who won the Macomb bee as in 2012 as a fifth grader and the youngest champion ever, the trip offers a second chance to see more of the nation’s capital. 

“I really want to see the Holocaust Museum this time.” he said. He is also looking forward to the swimming pool at the “awesome” Gaylord Hotel that annually hosts the event. 

To make it on to the stage at the Scripps final, will compete in several preliminary spelling and vocabulary testing rounds using both computers and pencil and paper. 

Nate remains positive about his chances to advance – and with good reason. His grandfather won the 1939 Detroit schools spelling bee as a 12-year-old and will be following the Scripps competition from home.

The Macomb County championship was spelling déjà vu for Shelby Junior High, as well. The school was home to last year’s winner Gurjiwan Chahal, who is now in ninth grade. Principal Lisa McDill is hoping to have the beginnings of spelling dynasty!

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