Gastroenterology spells Bee victory
By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Windward O'ahu Writer
KAILUA — Eliot St. John, an eighth-grader at Le Jardin Windward Academy won the Windward District Spelling Bee last night at Le Jardin by spelling the words "gastroenterology" and "scenario" correctly.
St. John, the son of Robert and Susan St. John, credited a voracious reading appetite for helping him with his spelling.
"I didn't do any studying," he said. "I wasn't sure how to study. They gave us a book but none of the words in the book were in the bee."
Kainoa Vigil, an eighth-grader at St. Mark Lutheran School, was the runner-up last night beating out the third place speller in four rounds.
Vigil, who is the son of Kelly Kihe, said he was surprised to get as far as he did this year because the competition was so fierce.
St. John and Vigil will go on to the State Spelling Bee at 1 p.m. March 14 at Windward Community College facing district champions from, Honolulu, Central and Leeward on O'ahu and Maui, Kaua'i and Hawai'i.
Finalists will compete in the 77th Annual Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee May 26 to 28 in Washington, D.C.
Reach Eloise Aguiar at 234-5266 or eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com.
