| Huntsville Senior is Spellbound | |
Dateline: 02/04/00
Maybe it was years of spelling her long last name, but senior Marlene Starcznski was as surprised as anyone else to have finished first in the Senior Friends National Convention Spelling Bee last October in Banff, Canada. The 68-year old senior volunteered locally at the Senior Friends Center at Crestwood Hospital. She and her husband, Star, along with 12 others from Huntsville, were planning on attending the Senior Friends Convention in Banff. She thought the spelling competition might be fun.
"I don't consider myself a good speller, but I have a good memory," said Marlene. She had a month to prepare for the contest, using a list of 310 words, some of which were totally unfamiliar to her. She would take a few sheets of the list with her on her daily walk and enjoy nature and commit the words to memory. She was expecting a lot of fun and activity at the contest.
Before going to Canada, she found out that she was the only contestant competing from Huntsville. She thought of backing out, but had already memorized a lot of the words! There were eight contestants in all--one man and seven women. They took turns walking to the microphone, pulling a number out of a bag, and then having the corresponding word given to them to spell. After 19 rounds, Marlene found herself and a former school teacher to be the only ones left. She was just getting warmed up and hoped that they would really volley the words back and forth. To her disappointment, they only went two more rounds. The teacher lost of the word, "infinitesimal." Marlene spelled it correctly and then had to spell "cavernicolous."
The next National Senior Spelling Bee is scheduled for October 15-22, 2000 in Bermuda. Marlene says that as long as they keep having the contest in a wonderful location, she'll keep going. Her other hobbies include line-dancing twice a week and clogging lessons and events.
Marlene is still amazed to see that she's become a spelling whiz. I know first hand that she's good. When I called, I asked her right away how to spell "bronchitis" and she didn't pause or have to reflect very long. She continued to help me out with other words as we went along. I'm usually not so bad with spelling, but I guess the stress of speaking with the National Champ of Senior Spelling was just too much for me!
If you are 50 years or older and would like to get involved with Senior Friends, you can call Kim Davis at Crestwood Hospital. For information call 880-4131.
Related Subjects
Alabama
State Spelling Bee
Here you'll find dates and datelines, qualifications,
instructions for homeschoolers, private and parochial, and public
schools, and contact information for student competition.
A
Spelling Test
On this site, a copy editor gives a test of 50 commonly
misspelled words. Spelling tips are also included on another
page.
National
Spelling Bee
Study activities and tips, faq's, calendar, local links,
participation guidelines, history of the spelling bee, rules,
word lists and study aids, and contact information.
Senior
Friends
Crestwood Medical Center's special program for seniors
with information on the health benefits, discounts, and fun and
entertainment available.
Spelling
and Vocabulary
Learn developmentally appropriate spelling principles
and patterns while using reliable strategies to both familiar and
unfamiliar words.
