Brownsville students face off in spelling bee

BROWNSVILLE — One student from each elementary and middle school in the Brownsville Independent School District participated in the district’s spelling bee Saturday morning, battling for a chance to go to the regional competition and possibly the national bee in Washington, D.C.
The 47 students representing the schools gathered at Gallegos Elementary School for the opening ceremony at 8 a.m., district spokeswoman Drue Brown said.
Omar Hussain of Hudson Elementary took first place in the competition after correctly spelling the words “behest” and “poi.”
Jenna Garcia, of Manzano Middle School, placed second.
“She stumbled on the word ‘kona,’” Brown said.
The top eight students in the spelling bee move on to the Rio Grande Valley annual spelling bee on March 3 at Texas State Technical College in Harlingen.
The winner of the regional spelling bee wins the chance to participate in the national contest in Washington at the end of May.
Brown said Brownsville students have competed in the national competition in previous years.