Mobile Christian Student Sets Record at Mobile County Spelling Bee

Mobile, Ala. – The 86th Annual Mobile County Spelling Bee presented by New Horizons Credit Union and the GoDaddy.com Bowl, was held Friday, February 1, 2013, at Bishop State’s Baker-Gaines Central Campus Auditorium. Almost sixty elementary and middle school students from public, private, and parochial schools participated in the contest.

Mobile Christian sixth-grader, Mariam Hashmi, spelled the word “Bolshevik” with confidence and certainty in a record 17th round to take the first place award. Hashmi is automatically guaranteed a spot in the Alabama Spelling Bee to be held March 9, 2013 at Oak Mountain High School. Eighth-grader, Sathra Lim from Grand Bay Middle School placed second and is the alternate for the state spelling bee and eighth-grader Peyton Hayes from Clark-Shaw Magnet School placed third. New Horizons Credit Union provided gift bags to all participants and the three spellers were awarded plaques and given $200, $100 and $50 for first, second and third place respectively. Lunch was provided by Jimmy Johns.

Adventure Travel, the state spelling bee sponsor, will award the winner of the state competition an all-expenses-paid trip for two to compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in the Washington, D.C. area. Bee Week 2013 is May 26–June 1, 2013.