Nazarene Renaissance Christian Kids College has been crowned as the first champions of the Meek Youth Organization (MeYO) Academic Year End Spelling Bee competition in Monrovia.
The Kids College dominated the entire competition, with three of its students qualifying for the grand finals, and subsequently meeting two separate opponents in the round of five on the final day.
A ninth grade student of the institution, Thomas B. Kollie, maintained strong self-confidence, after the stage was left with him and a female contestant from George and Logan Memorial High School, to decide the winner of the long academic battle at the Pioneer Baptist Church in Monrovia.
After two rounds of spelling, Kollie was declared winner when Lorina Williams of George and Logan High School hurriedly misspelled the word ‘Laboratory.’
The Champion, after correcting his opponent, was asked by the judges to spell the word ‘Yule’ which he did, leading him on to one of the greatest celebratory moments of his life.
According to him, it was a day of celebration for him and the Kids College that selected him, out of over 20 students, as a contestant in the spelling bee competition.
He added that his success in beating all his rivals at the event did not come from the sky, but was pursued through hard studies, continuous research and determination to make his school champions.
He described the moment as a dream come true in his academic sojourn, encouraging his colleagues to put in more time preparing for other competitions so that they too can be champions.
The competition’s final stage was dominated by female contestants. Statistics show that there were four females in the best five of the event.
Lorina Williams emerged as the second winner. She was the only student from the George and Logan Memorial High School that qualified for the grand finals.
All the schools in the final were represented by two contestants, except Lorina’s school and her schoolmates were eliminated in the preliminary stage.
St. Simon Baptist School System’s 11 year old sixth grader, Salimatou A. Keita, also appeared among the best three contestants of the competitive spelling bee.
She held her own, against opponents far older than her, until the battle proved too strong for her to continue.
However, she told the gathering that she was proud of her personal performance, winning the third place award. She extolled her coach for training her as a member of the school team, an opportunity she sees as very beneficial for her both now and in the long run.
The Meek Youth Organization certificated the three students that topped the competition and presented to them several school materials in packages that will support them for the next school year.
According to the leadership of the organization, education of the young people is a tool that can be used to transform the country from all negative uprisings on a daily basis.
“This makes it clear that all young men and women in the various communities can do something for this country. You do not have to get the world before effecting the change that you need in Liberia. Congratulations to all of our winners for their academic supremacy. Keep up your studies and remain a beacon in your various schools as we at the organization continue to strive for programs that will empower you,” he said.
