NW New Mexico News

Ethan Stevenson and Bennett Weber achieved notable successes at the recent Navajo Times-Office of Diné Youth Final Regional Spelling Bee held on March 20. Representing Kirtland Middle School and Tse Bit Ai Middle School, respectively, both students secured top positions, with Ethan finishing as runner-up and Bennett earning a place in the top five.

Ethan Stevenson showed determination throughout the event, particularly in his runner-up finish. He recalled the initial phase of the competition, stating, "I was really nervous during the competition. I didn’t even know if I was going to make it past the vocabulary test, so I feel good about winning runner-up." He attributed his success to consistent practice with his mother, remarking, "My mom just helped me practice every night for around 30 minutes." Ethan was surprised by his progress, noting, "I definitely wasn't expecting to get this far that I wasn't even going to make it past the vocabulary test." He is eager to participate in future spelling bees.

Bennett Weber, who also demonstrated strong spelling skills, aimed to advance to the national level. His journey ended due to an inadvertent spelling error in the first round. "I don't know. My mind I guess just got boggled and I just spelled the word wrong," he explained. Despite the setback, Bennett appreciated the effort involved in preparation, "I mean, preparing was hard." He expressed satisfaction with his performance, mentioning, "It's pretty nice. I gotten first [in the Northern Agency Bee], but I'll take top five because that's what I'm getting." He remains determined to compete again next year.

The achievements of Ethan and Bennett, along with other participants, highlight the commitment of young students to their academic goals. Their stories, filled with the anticipation of vocabulary tests and the demands of oral rounds, illustrate both the challenges and satisfactions of competing in the Navajo Times-Office of Diné Youth Final Regional Spelling Bee.