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Christian Author simulcast
Best Selling Christian author Beth Moore will be delivering a live spiritual message to an estimated 80,000 women nationwide and local women will have the opportunity to see the popular Bible teacher. Through a partnership between South Point Baptist Church, Lifeway Women’s Events and Church Communication Network, a simulcast will be broadcast on Aug. 1 and 2 at South Point Baptist Church. Tickets are $30 each and includes light refreshments Friday evening and light lunch on Saturday. For more information, contact South Point Baptist Church at (704)825-9516.
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Student spells his way to success
By TARA MANJARRES
- Thu, Mar 20, 2008
GASTONIA—It was a good day to be wearing an orange shirt.
Both the winner and first-runner up in this year’s county spelling bee both happened to be dressed in the same color—orange.
In his light-orange T-shirt, Andrew Lay of Stanley Middle School took top honors winning the bee with the word “virgule,” which is a form of punctuation.
Andrew will now proceed to the 2008 Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. in May.
Andrew is used to being in the spelling spotlight. He won the county bee last year too. He tied for 16th place in the national bee, outlasting all other N.C. contestants. He’s had a lot of resultant press but that doesn’t make the seventh-grader less nervous or amazed.
“Oh yeah, I was surprised,” said Andrew, who’s been competing since fourth-grade. “They had all studied like me and sometimes it just comes down to the luck of the words you get.”
Lenore Lay watched her grandson tackle difficult words like “parapet,” “diphthong,” and the Japanese word “koan.” She’s come to all the county competitions. She knows her grandson is a sharp speller but there’s also something else that pleases her.
“He’s a smart kid but it’s not just that he’s smart. He’s so humble about it. I’m very proud of him overall.”
First-runner up was 13-year-old Will Harris of Gaston Day School, who sported a bright orange polo shirt and correctly spelled the words like “herpetology” and “cedilla.”
Local students from Belmont and Mount Holly also took the stage. From Belmont Central Elementary was Spencer Stowe. A fourth-grader, he correctly spelled “bratwurst” but missed “piccolo.” Spencer said he wasn’t sure what the word was while he was spelling it on stage.
“It’s like a small flute,” said the sweet smiling 9-year-old afterward. Spencer was competing against spellers up to age 14.
“Most of the time I was really nervous and a little shaky,” he said. “But, when I got the words right I felt really happy and I was glad that I had passed through that round.”
Spencer may have gotten his spelling ability from his father, Charles, who came to support his son. Charles at one time was also his school spelling bee winner, he admitted sheepishly.
He was proud of Spencer’s spelling skills.
“I feel great,” said Charles. “He’s way ahead of me at that age. I was surprised at the words he spelled.
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