by Kayla Sheldon on 2016-03-03

MORENO VALLEY >> The stakes were high and the pressure was on for the 29 students competing in the 39th Annual Riverside County Spelling Bee, held at the Moreno Valley Conference and Recreation Center on Tuesday, Feb. 23. Throughout the eighteen stressful rounds and intricate words to be spelled, a winner emerged: Aisha Randhawa. The fifth-grader at Garretson Elementary School from the Corona-Norco Unified School District is going to represent Riverside County at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Maryland this May. “Ambrosia” — the word Randhawa will remember forever — the word that she spelled correctly making her the winner of the 39th Annual Riverside County Spelling Bee. “I thought about it for a second,” Randhawa said while explaining her thought process when she was on stage. “But I was pretty sure I knew it.” Eighth-grader from Desert Springs Middle School, John Terry, placed second. Getting caught by the word “obdurate” in Round 17, Randhawa went on to correctly spell the word “cologne” then leading her to the next word “ambrosia” where she clinched her title. Randhawa’s next step is the Scripps National Spelling Bee, which will be held in Maryland. “Probably competing at the event,” she said in response to what she’s looking forward to most about her upcoming trip to Maryland. “Also, maybe getting to see the Washington Monument,” she added. Santa Fe Kiler, seventh-grader from Menifee Valley Middle School took the third-place crown while the fourth-place title was shared among three students: San Gorgonio Middle sixth-grader Katherine Spusta, Western Center Academy eighth-grader Aaliyah Webster, and Lakeside Middle eigth-grader Nathaniel Moreno. Among the other talented participants included Air Force Colonel Aaron Heick’s ten-year-old son Benjamin. Heick, former spelling bee participant, left a legacy for his son as he placed second in 1985 and 1986, and placed first in 1987 and 1988. He set a record within Riverside County, as a seventh-grader, in the year of 1987; he placed fifth, overall at the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Heick shared, “My experiences in spelling bees helped me learn how to perform under pressure, how to practice and study toward a big goal. I learned about disciplining and preparing myself and that was definitely helpful in the Air Force.” Participant Mumtahina Tajrian, sixth-grader at Vista Heights Middle School was representing Moreno Valley at the County Spelling Bee. Just like every participant, Tajrian has big plans for her future. She said, “Nobody knows how the future will turn out, but I aspire to become a pediatrician or surgeon. I entered the spelling bee because I wanted to prove to myself that hard work and dedication pays off.” Sixth-grader Chioma Amadi from the California Military Institute in Perris, among the rest of his peers, went great lengths preparing for this day. “I studied a lot. I even studied when I went to Nigeria over our winter break,” said Amadi. “I entered the spelling bee because I enjoy spelling and consider myself a ‘grammar freak’.” Andon Lieu, sixth-grader at Thompson Middle School, represented Murrieta Valley. Aside from spelling, Lieu is interested in sports including baseball and football. He aspires to a basketball player, a lawyer, or the president. Another ambitious participant, sixth-grader at Margaret White Elementary School, Xavier Herrera has bright plans for his future. “My future ambitions are to become a baseball player or join NASA and study aliens,” he added. “The reason I entered the spelling bee is because I get bullied and I didn’t let that bring me down. It made me try something new and prove that because I study hard I can adapt to new things.” [END] From 1985 to 1988, Aaron Heick dominated the Riverside County Spelling Bee—placing second overall in 1985 and 1986 before finishing first in 1987 and 1988. As a 7th grade student in 1987, he advanced to the Scripps National Spelling Bee and finished 5th overall—the best performance from a Riverside County student in the history of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. He returned to the national bee as an 8th grade student in 1988 and finished 17th overall. In 2016, he will be a member of the audience when his 10-year old son, Benjamin Heick, is among 29 spellers on stage competing at the 39th Annual Riverside County Spelling Bee set for Tuesday, February 23, 2016 at 9 a.m. at the Moreno Valley Conference and Recreation Center (14075 Frederick St, Moreno Valley, CA 92553). Now a colonel in the Air Force, Aaron Heick shared that participating in spelling bees has helped him in numerous ways during his career. “My experiences in spelling bees helped me learn how to perform under pressure, how to practice and study toward a big goal. I learned about disciplining and preparing myself and that was definitely helpful in the Air Force,” Heick said. “Being in front of a large group of people and communicating with confidence on a stage has been a great outcome from being in the bee. Also, it really helps with communication because being a strong speller also shows that you can use a broad vocabulary and strong spellers typically have a better understanding of grammar.” At the 38th Annual Riverside County Spelling Bee in 2015, Jenna-May Ingal, an eighth grade student from James Workman Middle School in the Palm Springs Unified School District was named the champion in her fifth and final year participating in the event. She emerged victorious after more than five hours of competition that included 39 rounds and a total of more than 400 words. At the 2015 Scripps National Spelling Bee last May, Ingal advanced to the sixth round before misspelling “periegesis”. The overall winner of the county bee will once again represent Riverside County at the Scripps National Spelling Bee set for May 22-28 in Maryland. Other participants set to compete in the 39th Annual Riverside County Spelling Bee include: Aaliyah Webster, Western Center Academy - Grade 8 (Hemet USD). Aaliyah placed second in the 2014 Riverside County Spelling Bee and finished in the top seven overall at the 2014 California State Spelling Bee. Mumtahina Tajrian, Vista Heights Middle School - Grade 8 (Moreno Valley USD) Mumtahina describes herself as “your typical 14 year-old girl, with big dreams and vibrant visions of my future.” She continued: “Nobody knows how the future will turn out, but I aspire to become a pediatrician or surgeon. I entered the spelling bee because I wanted to prove to myself that hard work and dedication pays off.” Xavier Herrera, Margaret White Elementary School - Grade 6 (Palo Verde USD) “My future ambitions are to become a baseball player or join NASA and study aliens. The reason I entered the spelling bee is because I get bullied and I didn’t let that bring me down. It made me try something new and prove that because I study hard I can adapt to new things.” Chioma Amadi, California Military Institute - Grade 6 (Perris Union HSD). “I entered the Spelling Bee because I enjoy spelling and consider myself a ‘grammar freak’. To prepare for our district spelling bee, I studied a lot. I even studied when I went to Nigeria over our winter break.” Andon Lieu, Thompson Middle School - Grade 6 (Murrieta Valley USD) Andon shared that he likes baseball and football, has a dog, 2 turtles, 3 chickens, and one baby sister. His favorite subject is social studies and he wants to be either a lawyer, president, or basketball player. All Saints' Carden Academy Benjamin Heick, All Saints Carden Academy - Grade 5 *Kaitlyn Sterling, All Saints Carden Academy - Grade 7 Alvord USD Zahra Hasta, McAuliffe Elementary School - Grade 5 *Jaden Isaac, Villegas Middle School - Grade 6 Banning USD Caster Dela Cruz, Nicolet Middle School - Grade 6 *Alissa Zavala, Hoffer Elementary School - Grade 5 Beaumont USD Katherine Spusta, San Gorgonio Middle School - Grade 6 *Tyler Mason, Highland Academy - Grade 8 Coachella Valley USD Hector Jimenez, Toro Canyon Middle School - Grade 8 *Brittany Medina, John Kelley Elementary School - Grade 5 Corona-Norco USD Aisha Randhawa, Garretson Elementary School - Grade 5 *Max Chen, Citrus Hills Intermediate School - Grade 7 Desert Center USD Nathan Marth, Eagle Mountain School - Grade 4 *Ivan Ramos, Eagle Mountain School - Grade 6 Desert Sands USD Aiden De La Cruz, Harry S. Truman Elementary School - Grade 5 *Joseph Lehman, Palm Desert Charter Middle School - Grade 6 Hemet USD Aaliyah Webster, Western Center Academy - Grade 8 *Ariel Sum, Rancho Viejo Middle School - Grade 7 Lake Elsinore USD Katherine Avelar, Withrow Elementary School - Grade 5 *Savannah Vargas, Luiseno School - Grade 4 Menifee Union SD Santa Fe Kiler, Menifee Valley Middle School - Grade 7 *Danielle Andal, Bell Mountain Middle School - Grade 7 Moreno Valley USD Mumtahina Tajrian, Vista Heights Middle School - Grade 8 *Deborah Aguirre, La Jolla Elementary School - Grade 4 Murrieta Valley USD Andon Lieu, Thompson Middle School - Grade 6 *Daniel Namkung, Cole Canyon Elementary School - Grade 4 Nuview Union SD Rebekah Gonzalez, Nuview Elementary School - Grade 5 *Juliana Anchondo, Mountain Shadows Middle School - Grade 7 Palm Springs USD John Terry, Desert Springs Middle School - Grade 8 *Aden Bambao, Sunny Sands Elementary School - Grade 4 Palo Verde USD Xavier Herrera, Margaret White Elementary School - Grade 6 *Frances Pelicano, Margaret White Elementary School - Grade 7 Pechanga School Star Lane, Pechanga School - Grade 5 *Aiden Strout, Pechanga School - Grade 5 Perris Union High SD Chioma Amadi, California Military Institute - Grade 6 *Ansen Nazareno, California Military Institute - Grade 7 River Springs Charter School Carter Londono, River Springs Charter School - Grade 6 *Brooke Bullock, River Springs Charter School - Grade 5 Romoland SD Frances Desquitado, Ethan A. Chase Middle School - Grade 7 *Antonio Olmos, Boulder Ridge Elementary School - Grade 4 San Jacinto USD Justin Hemmati, San Jacinto Leadership Academy - Grade 8 *Sophia Echeverria, Clayton A. Record, Jr. Elementary School - Grade 5 Santa Rosa Academy Jackalyn Ballard, Santa Rosa Academy - Grade 8 *Danielle Paisley, Santa Rosa Academy - Grade 6 St. Jeanne de Lestonnac Michael Mistica, St. Jeanne de Lestonnac - Grade 6 *Olivia Chmiel, St. Jeanne de Lestonnac - Grade 7 St. Theresa School Alexander Grauel, St. Theresa School - Grade 7 Temecula Preparatory School Charlotte Myers, Temecula Preparatory School - Grade 5 *Jack Evans, Temecula Preparatory School - Grade 5 Temecula Valley USD Rachana Rajupalem, Erle Stanley Gardner Middle School - Grade 7 *Kiran Depala, Temecula Middle School - Grade 8 Val Verde USD Nathaniel Moreno, Lakeside Middle School - Grade 8 *Mario Sanchez, Tomas Rivera Middle School - Grade 8 Van Avery Preparatory School Raechel Arellano, Van Avery Prep - Grade 8 *Kaya Telles, Van Avery Prep - Grade 8 Woodcrest Christian School Caleb Chang, Woodcrest Christian School - Grade 7