Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
Shari-Jo Miller (foreground), Gleaner Spelling Bee champion, along with her teacher, Primrose Swaby (left), Gleaner's Corporate Affairs Manager Karin Cooper (centre), and spelling coach, the Reverend Glen Archer, on their arrival at the Norman Manley International Airport from the Scripps National Spelling Bee competition in the United States. Shari-Jo placed 37th out of 293 spellers.
Nadisha Hunter, Sunday Gleaner Writer
AS THE Gleaner's Children's Own National Spelling Bee champion, Shari-Jo Miller, walked through the arrival door at the Norman Manley International Airport, all eyes were on her.
Persons at the airport waiting on friends and relatives lost focus for a brief moment and, instead, were interested in the little speller whom they hailed a celebrity. Some persons congratulated Shari-Jo for her effort, while some hugged her.
The Bishop Gibson High School speller returned to the island following her exit from the Scripps National Spelling Bee competition last Thursday. She was eliminated in the fourth round of the final.
Stumbled on a-u-s-c-u-l-t-a-t-i-o-n
Shari-Jo fought valiantly throughout the competition, advancing to the semi-finals, but stumbled on the word a-u-s-c-u-l-t-a-t-i-o-n. It refers to the act of listening, especially to sounds from the heart, lung and so forth, as part of a medical diagnosis. She spelt o-s-c-u-l-t-a-t-i-o-n.
Shari-Jo placed 37th out of the 293 spellers who competed.
Disappointment showed on her face yesterday. Miller had her sights set on updating the record of being a contestant from outside the United States to win the competition. In 1998, Ardenne High student Jody-Anne Maxwell was the first non-American to clinch the title in the 71-year-old competition.
"I am happy that it's over now. I wasn't nervous when I was on the stage, but I had difficulties with the pronunciation because the 'Au' sounded like an 'O'," the soft-spoken speller told The Sunday Gleaner. Shari-Jo said she was proud she could represent the country in as prestigious an event as the Scripps National Spelling Bee competition.
Back to normal life
With the competition over and the tension behind her, Miller said she was happy she could get back to her normal life.
"I am now going to spend more time with my friends and focus on my schoolwork," she said.
The Reverend Glen Archer, who assisted in coaching Miller, said he was elated by the young speller's performance.
"She worked hard leading up to the competition and she handled herself well at the event. I am proud of her because she passed the difficult first round and was able to be the 41st to reach the semi-final and ended placing 37th in the competition."