Fort Defiance Agency Spelling Bee winners advance to final bee
Navajo Times | Boderra Joe
Navajo Times/Office of Diné Youth’s Fort Defiance Agency spellers competed in a spelling bee with eight other schools at the ODY complex in Fort Defiance on Feb. 22. The champion, runner-up, and alternate will compete at the final on March 21, where one will be the winner to represent the Navajo Nation at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.
FORT DEFIANCE – Roughly 60 students participated in the Navajo Times-Office of Diné Youth Fort Defiance Agency Spelling Bee.
Eight schools arrived and competed at the Office of Diné Youth Complex in Fort Defiance, Arizona.
At least six schools participated in the Fort Defiance Agency Spelling Bee last year.
“They (schools) are becoming aware of spelling bees coming back again after the pandemic,” said Nathaniel Natonabah, the prevention specialist for ODY-Fort Defiance.
Natonabah has been working with the Navajo Times/Office of Diné Youth Spelling Bee for nine years and said during this time, spellers arrive nervous and a bit shy, but overall, they come out as doers.
“I think once they had their competition, their (nervousness) is gone, and they’re back to their old self,” he said.
Meeting new students during these times keeps Natonabah going and enjoy the spelling bee competitions.
In the beginning, after reading the rules, spellers were encouraged to stand up, place their hands on their hips, and pose like a superhero.
They were advised to “own it,” and the ODY staff wished the spellers good luck.
“Keep studying,” Natonabah told the spellers competing in the final competition. “Look in the dictionary because there’s going to be some words that they (spellers) didn’t study that are going to appear.”
2024 Fort Defiance Agency Spelling Bee results:
Fourth grade:
Champion – Allejah Harper, Hilltop Christian School
Runner-up – Damon Salabye, Tséhootsooí Intermediate Learning Center
Alternate – Abigail Arthur, Hilltop Christian School
Fifth grade:
Champion – Bailey Nelson, St. Michaels Indian School
Runner-up – Lauren Yazzie, St. Michaels Indian School
Sixth grade:
Champion – Josiah Harper, Hilltop Christian School
Runner-up – Chasen Davis, Tséhootsooí Intermediate Learning Center
Alternate – Kingston Sheka, Tséhootsooí Intermediate Learning Center
Seventh grade:
Champion – Kenyon Henry, Tséhootsooí Middle School
Runner-up – Delonte Begay, Greasewood Springs Community School
Eighth grade:
Champion – Darius Begay, Greasewood Springs Community School
Runner-up – Ava Nez, Tséhootsooí Intermediate Learning Center
Alternate – Joel Garnenez, Tséhootsooí Middle School
The Navajo Times-Office of Diné Youth Spelling Bee for Northern Agency will take place at the Phil Thomas Performing Arts Center in Shiprock March 7. The final bee is at the ODY Complex in Fort Defiance March 21.
Highway 264,
I-40, WB @ Winslow