Sorority Keeps Name Alive Through Spelling Bee

Brad Shands is given a word to spell by moderator and  educator Jerome Hughes.   Photo: Urban News
Brad Shands is given a word to spell by moderator and
educator Jerome Hughes. Photo: Urban News

Competition Helps Students Improve Vocabulary

Over and over, they asked, “May I have the definition?”; “Will you use it in a sentence?”; and “Will you pronounce the word again, please?” Parents, grandparents, and friends held their breath as one after another fifth grader walked to the microphone to spell a word.

No, this was not the National Scripps Spelling Bee. This was the MacNolia Cox Spelling Bee sponsored by the Asheville Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. In 1936, MacNolia Cox became the first African American to reach the final round of the national competition.

It is thought that the judges kept her from winning by presenting a word that was not on the official list: “nemesis”— which is precisely what the word proved to be for MacNolia. Her experience became the inspiration for a book of poems titled MacNolia by poet A. Van Jordan, a professor at the University of Michigan.

Front row (l-r): Diamond Roland, Malachi Lee, Brad Shands  (3rd Place), KwanYin Ewart (1st Place), Brianna Brown (2nd Place), and Danielle O’Neill. Second row: Famous Pasley, Rajinder McKoy, Raymond McDay, and Ayran Lee.
Front row (l-r): Diamond Roland, Malachi Lee, Brad Shands
(3rd Place), KwanYin Ewart (1st Place), Brianna Brown (2nd Place), and Danielle O’Neill. Second row: Famous Pasley, Rajinder McKoy, Raymond McDay, and Ayran Lee.

The students, from area churches and after-school programs, worked for four months preparing for the bee. At Asheville Middle School on Saturday, they paced to relieve their nervousness and practiced the more difficult words. When the bee began, each child approached the mic with gallant demeanor and spoke with confidence. The audience applauded regularly, culminating when the final contestant spelled the winning word, “algae.” That speller was KwanYin Ewart, daughter of Inkwa Ewart and a student at Isaac Dickson Elementary School. She received $100.

The second-place winner, Brianna Brown, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Brown and a student at Emmanuel Lutheran School, received $50. The third-place winner, Brad Shands, son of Zenith Shands and a student at Hall Fletcher Elementary School, received $25.

Other participants included Ayran Lee, son of Mr. & Mrs. Tony Lee; Malachi Lee, son of Rev. & Mrs. Jamie Lee; Raymond McDay Jr., son of Mr. & Mrs. Raymond McDay; Rajinder McKoy, daughter of Cornelia McNeil; Danielle O’Neill, granddaughter of Mr. & Mrs. Hall Sams; Famous Pasley, son of Mr. Fred Pasley; and Diamond Roland, daughter of Ms. Frances Roland.

Students received the book, 100 Words Every Middle Schooler Should Know. They will compete again in May of 2014 in the Middle School Challenge based on words from that book. Eula Shaw, Chairman of the Spelling Bee Committee, said, “We want to continue to encourage them to study words, their definitions and their meanings in context. A strong vocabulary is the key to effective communication, and that is a necessity if one is to succeed.”

The sorority appreciates the contributions and support from the following churches and businesses: Attorney Carol Goins, Maybin Did It—Photography, Theresa Dillon/Mary Kay Cosmetics, Jolie De Shea’s Hair Design, Salon Roche, Tried Stone Missionary Baptist Church, and Delta House 21st Century Program. Contributions are still needed.

The sorority’s second annual spelling bee will be in May 2014 and will be for 4th and 5th graders. Packets will be ready beginning October 1, 2013. The sponsors are seeking participants from churches and after-school programs.

Interested persons may contact any member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. Call and leave a message at the Delta House at (828) 505-7070, or call Eula Shaw at (828) 277-5625.