PUHI — Stephen Valenciano calmly stood up and approached the microphone with a chance to represent Kaua‘i in the State Spelling Bee in March.
He only had to spell the word “Lutz”, a term used to describe a special figure skating jump.
After asking for the definition and then for it to be used in a sentence, Valenciano, a Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School student, rattled off the four letters correctly in front of friends and family at the Honolulu Advertiser-sponsored Kaua‘i Complex Area Spelling Bee on Thursday evening at the Chiefess school.
“I had heard of the word before,” said Valenciano. “But I am not much of a skater.”
Valenciano along with runner-up Lauren Esaki from Kapa‘a Middle School will represent the island at the State event which will be held on March 14 on O‘ahu.
“I just studied with friends and read a lot,” said the Kaua‘i winner. “I am going to use the same methods for the big one (State spelling bee). I will have to read a lot more.”
Valenciano was one of nine 7th and 8th grade students from public and private schools island-wide that competed on Thursday at the event.
“We (Kaua‘i spellers) do very well,” said Brent Mizutani, Kaua‘i School Renewal Specialist. “They take their spelling seriously.
“They were all very poised and the event was very successful. They all showed a tremendous amount of determination. I would also like to thank all of their teachers for preparing them for this.”
Valenciano, specifically, had a great mentor in relative Michelle Valenciano, who is a librarian at King Kaumuali‘i Elementary School.
Michelle won the Kaua‘i spelling bee in 1971.
“I just told him (Stephen) to have fun and relax,” said Michelle Valenciano.
Esaki was relaxed throughout her words until “aeronautical.” stumped her.
“It was a lot of fun,” said Esaki. “I studied on the Internet and with friends.”
In addition to Valenciano and Esaki, St. Catherine School’s Zariani Fernandez, Kauai Christian Academy’s Wyatt Hom-Weaver and Seth Morales, Waimea Canyon School’s Mark Guirao and Dante Martin, Kapa‘a Middle School’s Dylan Cockerham and Chiefess student Briana Bailey all participated in the event.
In 2003, 12 competitors tested their spelling skills in the competition. Before Valenciano’s win on Thursday, Stephanie Kawamura won the previous two island spelling bees.
Business Editor Barry Graham maybe reached at 245-3681 (ext.) 251 or mailto:bgraham@pulitzer.net
