2014 Rockdale County Spelling Bee participants (and their alternates)
BES: Levi Momon (Amaris Coleman)
CJ Hicks Elementary: Krystal Thomas (Elijah Character)
FSE: Justin Green (Samari Allen)
HTE: Minh Chau Clark (Nalani Hearst)
HCE: Ryan Kendall (Samaura Rivera)
JH House Elementary: Kaden Green (Alyssa Bennett)
LES: Sariyah Willis (Ashleigh Norris)
PCE: Gregory Smith
SCE: Erik Edwards (Christopher Connor)
Sims Elementary: Lauryn Chapman (Myles Hall)
CMS: Jordon Auld-Ellis (Asceneth Johnson)
DMS: Rushi Patel (Khaylie Boothe)
EMS: Michal Norfleet (Juliette Butler)
MMS: Jaylen Carson (Jalin Miller)
Illustrious was the winning word during the Rockdale County Public Schools district spelling bee and it could also describe the audience reaction when seventh grader Jordan Auld-Ellis was handed the winner’s trophy.
Besides the immediate applause and cheers, several handshakes and pats on the back awaited the spelling champ right after the contest Friday morning at Conyers Middle School.
It took roughly 30 minutes for the competition to whittle down from the 14 top spellers from the county’s elementary and middle schools to two contestants. Auld-Ellis, a Conyers Middle School student, and Shoal Creek Elementary student Erik Edwards had one face off round before Edwards missed the correct spelling of anticipatory.
Auld-Ellis spelled that word and illustrious correctly for the win.
He flashed a quick, modest smile as he received the trophy and posed for photos on stage.
“I was nervous before the competition, but once I got up there, I wasn’t too nervous,” Auld-Ellis later told the News during the reception for the Bee participants.
Throughout the competition, Auld-Ellis held a composed demeanor as he carefully spelled out the words.
He admitted mammalian, his word during the first round, initially threw him off. But he was pretty confident with the spelling of the competition’s winning word.
“It’s a word I already knew how to spell,” Auld-Ellis said, explaining he how he studies when he has time between classes.
Next up for him is the regional spelling bee March 1 at Mundy’s Mill High School in Jonesboro.
When asked how he felt about the regional competition, the spelling champ thought about it and said he felt fine.
Jordan is an aspiring psychologist and said his favorite subject is science.
IN BRIEF: Conyers Middle School seventh grader Jordon Auld-Ellis won the 2014 Rockdale County Spelling Bee, hosted at Conyers Middle School on Friday, beating out 13 other contestants from each of the Rockdale County Public Schools elementary and middle schools. Runner up was Erik Edwards of Shoal Creek Elementary. The winning word was "illustrious."
Check back later for the full story.
