Spelling Bee 2021

MES 5th Grader Advances to Top 10 Spellers in State
Posted on 03/01/2021
This is the image for the news article titled MES 5th Grader Advances to Top 10 Spellers in StateMartin Elementary School Spelling Bee Champion Ellie Freeman competed in the statewide spelling bee this weekend in Nashville. By successfully completing online tests, she advanced to the top 50 and ultimately to the top 10 who were then invited to Nissan Stadium for the weekend’s final in-person contest.

The Tennessee Titans serve as the sponsors of the Spelling Bee and traditionally have paid for the state’s winning speller and parents to attend the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Eight of the ten arrived in Nashville for the live competition. Representatives from Scripps National Spelling Bee were present. Though Freeman did not do as well as she had hoped, due to nerves at being in front of an audience, she was excited about the experience and plans on entering the contest again next year.

MES Assistant Principal and Literacy Leader Jane Hudgins helped Freeman maneuver the online tests that led her to ultimately make it to the top ten. She said the multiple choice questions required students to not only know how the word was spelled but to know the meaning as well.

“I’m really impressed with Ellie’s accomplishment as a 5th grader,” Hudgins said. “If she does this every year, she is going to be great.”

Principal Patresa Rogers agrees, “For her to do this as a 5th grader is above and beyond anyone’s expectations. She’s really worked hard.”

The accomplishment was celebrated as she and family members stopped at The Chop House in Hendersonville to enjoy a family favorite, tamale cakes. Freeman is the daughter of John and Amanda Freeman.

Luke Lawrence, the Weakley County Schools winner of the spelling bee, advanced to the top 50 spellers in the state due to his online performance. Both county and school winners are allowed to participate in the online competition.

Ellie Freeman and Jane Hudgins
Ellie Freeman, a 5th grader at Martin Elementary, won her school spelling bee in the fall and took part in online contests to advance to the live competition among the top 10 spelling champions in the state this year.
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