Jenson advances to SW Minnesota Bee

• Prairie Elementary Spelling Bee

Prairie Elementary Spelling Bee Champion Cameron Jenson poses with his dictionary, a gift to all finalists. Jenson is one of three fifth graders who will compete at the Southwest Minnesota Spelling Bee April 4 in Slayton. (Laura grevas/daily globe

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WORTHINGTON — Fifth-grader Cameron Jenson won the Prairie Elementary School Spelling Bee Tuesday, spelling the holiday-appropriate word ‘cupid’ correctly to advance to the Southwest Minnesota Spelling Bee.

The win came after several back and forth rounds with runner-up Sebastian Licea. The boys tackled such toughies as ‘nonchalant’, ‘privileged’ and ‘reciprocal’ before the bee was through.

“It’s always come easy for me,” said Jenson, who studied with his mom and friend the morning of the competition.

The students were given a list of words which contained similar spelling patterns to those they would face in the competition.

The finalists in Tuesday’s Bee were determined by a written spelling test given to all Prairie fifth-graders. The top 20 were given another written test, producing 11 finalists, who were all given dictionaries for their participation.

Fifth grade teacher Hollie Hibma said the event was produced on a larger scale than usual. Not only parents, but more than 200 students attended, and KM Graphics in Worthington donated T-shirts to students who advanced to the Southwest Minnesota Bee.

“It’s important for us to acknowledge academic gifts that kids have so they take pride in their accomplishments,” said Hibma.

Jenson, Licea, third place winner Sierra Synavone, and two sixth grade students yet to be determined will compete at the Southwest Minnesota Spelling Bee, to be held April 4 at Murray County Central Elementary School in Slayton. Gage Langerud was named as the fifth-grade alternate.

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