FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP — One by one, the fifth-graders stepped up to the podium and took turns spelling words c-or r-e-c-t-l-y. The room at the Freehold Township Early Childhood Learning Center was packed with more than 200 people.
The Noontime Optimist Club of Freehold members, nervous parents, siblings, teachers and principals listened intently during the non-qualifying spelling bee, held the evening of Jan. 20.
The 50 students from the Freehold Township schools were fierce competitors. It took a little over two hours, 20 rounds, including seven elimination rounds, to decide the three winners.
The 12th annual Noontime Optimist Club Spelling Bee garnered the Catena School first and second place. Siddesh Nageswaran won first place and Siddharth Iyer took second place.
The third-place prize went to Matthew Gallego of the West Freehold School.
The winners were given gift cards to Barnes & Noble bookstore donated by Gellman Images, Freehold. Each also received a handsome Lucite medallion designed and donated by LaserXpressions, Freehold Raceway Mall.
All contestants received a certificate of participation from the PAL, which also produced and coordinated all applications to the spelling bee.
The event was videotaped by Gellman Images for broadcast on Freehold Township’s municipal access channel.
In conjunction with the spelling bee, the Noontime Optimist Club also conducted a food drive for the community.
Sheila Saul, event chair, said she views the spelling bee as an opportunity for children to improve their public speaking skills, excel in spelling, increase the vocabulary and build self-esteem.