"Brooklyn" (a borough of New York City) was the word that decided the District 601 Spelling Bee Champion of 2023. Easton Gilbertson successfully spelled "Brooklyn" to edge out Emily Johnson for the title. Both Easton and Emily were awarded $20 in Fosston Bucks, generously donated by the City of Fosston. Easton also received a one-year subscription to the online Britannica Encyclopedia. Others who participated in the spelling bee on Thursday, December 14th were Liv Nelson, Janna Garrison, Tucker Nyland, Myles Goltz.
To qualify for a spot in the competition, students in grades 7 and 8 were given a written spelling test. This test determined the top spellers from each grade, who then advanced to the school spelling bee.
Next up for Easton is the NW Regional Spelling Bee at Northland Technical & Community College in Thief River Falls on February 7th. He will be competing against champions from other schools in the Region, and vying to advance to the national bee in May.
Congratulations, Easton!