Saturday night at Ethan Allen Elementary School, Karen Mitchel won first place in the citywide spelling bee. Although the competition was stiff, twelve-year-old Karen emerged on top. Karen’s father, Tom Mitchell, when asked to comment, said, “Yes, we are very proud of her. She spelled words I can’t even spell, and I am a college English professor!”
Karen’s winning word was a hard one – megalopteran. Some of the other words she knew were palaestra, sacerdotal and varicella. All are very hard words.
Later this week Karen’s sixth-grade class will all go out for lunch and an afternoon of skating to celebrate her win. Her teacher, Mrs. Amanda Killbro, said that all had worked hard toward Karen’s triumph.