Spelling bee pits kids vs. adults

The top students from this year’s Lincoln Public Schools Oral Spelling Bee squared off against their principals and a favorite teacher on Tuesday.

The result? Domination - no alternate definition, no alternate pronunciation.

The war of words occurred at the February edition of the LPS Learning Lunch, held in the Board Room at LPS District Office. The top five finishers from the LPS Spelling Bee, held Feb. 10, were on hand: The winner, seventh-grader Sankar Ramamurthy from Lux Middle School; his twin brother, Eswar, also from Lux; Shrey Agarwal, a sixth-grader at Lux; William Bivin, a fifth-grader from Randolph Elementary; and Grant Gouldie, an eighth-grader at Scott Middle School.

Their opponents: Lux Principal Duane Dohmen; Amy Ruisinger, Lux language arts teacher and gifted coordinator; Scott Principal Dave Knudsen; and Randolph Principal Kristen Finley.

The adults may have been lured into a false sense of confidence during the practice and first rounds with words such as seamless, blandest, spree and goblin. Knudsen’s first-round word was “juggler,” defined as one skilled in keeping many objects in motion in the air at the same time.

“Like a principal,” Knudsen said.

The degree of difficulty quickly ratcheted up in round two, starting with Dohmen.

“How did we go from ‘seamless’ to ‘modus operandi’? he asked.

The adults were soon eliminated, with Knudsen the only one who advanced to the third round by correctly spelling “arbalist,” which is a person who shoots a crossbow.

Eventually, though, it was Sankar Ramamurthy who once again was the last speller standing - or sitting in this case, as contestants sat in the elevated seats typically used by the Lincoln Board of Education. His winning word: “Prosecco,” which is an Italian white wine.

William Bivin finished second by correctly spelling “grivation,” which is the angle between north as indicated by a grid on a map and magnetic north at any point.

And everyone in attendance finished with a deep appreciation of spellcheck.

LPS Learning Lunches, open to the Lincoln community, are generally held on the last Tuesday of the month in the Board Room at LPS District Office, 5905 O St. Doors to the Board Room open at noon, the program begins at 12:15 p.m., questions-and-answers happen at 12:45 p.m. You bring your lunch, we provide dessert.

The rest of the 2017-18 season:

  • Tuesday, March 27: Developing Young Men and Women, featuring Huntington Elementary School children and Rik Devney, Huntington principal. 
  • Tuesday, April 24: Great Year of Achievement, highlighting LPS special education programs at Sherrill, Nuernberger and Yankee Hill Education Centers – Jane Stavem, associate superintendent of Instruction at LPS.
  • Tuesday, May 15: Making Music, UKE can do it!  Come try your musical talents with ukuleles, Lance Nielsen, curriculum specialist for Music at LPS.


Published: March 1, 2018, Updated: March 1, 2018

Gallery