Vestal Sankro was declared the winner of 6th Nagaland Spelling Bee Championship at capital convention centre Kohima on September 29.
The two-day state level championship for classes 7-10 was organised by Fountain Club Kohima in collaboration with State Council of Educational Research & Training (SCERT) Nagaland.
Vestal daughter of Thomas Sankhro, a class 9 student of Holy Cross Higher Secondary School Dimapur, won the competition against Zalino Mekro (class 10) of Little Flower Higher Secondary School Kohima. They were the last two standings of the initial 41spellers.
The winning words were “Kitchenettee” and “Plenipotentiary”. She is taking home Rs. 60,000 grand prize along with citation and trophy while Zalino walked away with Rs. 40,000 and citation.
The third and fourth places were bagged by Visakhono Yakhro (class 10) of St. Paul School Phesema and Keviseto Mekhro (class 9) of C.D. King Higher Secondary School Kohima who also won Rs. 20,000 and Rs. 15,000 along with citation respectively.
Four quarter finalists namely Lisa Venuh (class 10) of Mount Hermon Higher Secondary School Kohima, Shanjothung Ngullie (class 8) of Dainty Buds School Kohima, Kasunga Victoria Kuba (class 8) of Model Higher Secondary School Kohima and Pithungo Kikon (class 7) of St. Marys Cathedral Higher Secondary School Kohima received Rs.5, 000 each.
Earlier in his address as special guest, additional deputy commissioner, Medziphema, Vikhweno Chale, said the Nagaland Spelling Bee Championship platform provides the competitive spirit to students to learn more. She said such competitions would build the courage and confidence of the students to aim for higher level of competitions.
Lamenting that students’ from government schools were not part of the competition, Chale encouraged students from government schools to be part of the competition.
Additional director SCERT, Jack, also addressed the gathering. The programme was led by Medo Yhokha, special song were presented by Chetonü Hibo while vote of thanks was proposed by Peter Seyievilie Zashümo. Later, the special guest gave away prizes to the winners.
The championship pronouncers were Adila Longkumer, Mechüni Whiso, Ela Susan James and Vimesao Terhase and judges were Daniel Thong, N.C. Kikon, Agnes Krocha Tepa and Amongla. Altogether 41 students from 21 schools from Kohima, Dimapur and Phek districts participated in the championship.