By Shavonne Potts
spotts@salisburypost.com
In less than an hour, refugee became the word of the evening in the Western Region Non-public School Spelling Bee.
The event was held Wednesday at Salisbury Academy.
Stephan Snyder, a seventh-grader at Woodlawn School in Mooresville, won the competition.
The Davidson resident said he was surprised to win.
“I tend to be pessimistic,” he said.
With that attitude, Snyder said, he figured if he did badly, then he wouldn’t be that upset. And if he did well, he’d be happy.
He practiced for the competition by using spellingbee.com and a Spell It study guide.
He’s been practicing for three weeks. It’s his second bee.
His prize was $50. When asked what he would do with the money, Snyder said he has his eye on an unusual pet.
“I want to buy a goat,” he said.
Snyder said he’s always wanted a goat.
Nate Fischer, a sixth-grader at Two Rivers Community School, took second place.
It was his first bee, and he was a little nervous.
The Boone resident said he loves to read and that’s really how he prepared.
His mother, Kathy Parham, said her son is always reading.
Fischer said he likes the Harry Potter series and some science fiction.
Fischer misspelled influenza.
The winner from this competition will go on to compete in the Winston-Salem Journal Regional Bee on March 22.
The pronouncer was Dr. Karl Hales, a retired Catawba College professor. The judges were Dr. Gary Freeze, chairman of the history and politics department at Catawba College; Dr. Gordon Grant, an associate professor of English at Catawba; and Heather Coultner, spelling bee coordinator.
“I’m very pleased with the efforts of our students,” Coulter said.
The following students also participated in the spelling bee: Zach Pacious, Alissa Moorey, Lauren Broach, Bobby Cardelle, Brock Overcash, Elle Wimmer, George Koribanic, Karen Ehrhardt and Bradford Weir.