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She Has “A Way with Words,” Daybreak Student Competes in National Scripps Spelling Bee Championship in Washington, D.C.
Description
You could say she has “a way with words.” We’re talking about Sophia Montana, a 6th grade student at Daybreak Elementary School.
On this episode of the Supercast, find out how Sophia managed to win the Utah Regional Spelling Bee in a tough five-hour competition propelling her to compete in the National Scripps Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. How is she preparing to go up against the best in the U.S.? Listen and find out.
Audio Transcription
[Music]Anthony Godfrey:
Hello and welcome to the Supercast. I'm your host, Superintendent Anthony Godfrey. You could say she has a way with words. We're talking about Sophia Montana, a sixth-grade student at Daybreak Elementary School.
On this episode of the Supercast, find out how Sophia managed to win the Utah Regional Spelling Bee in a tough five-hour competition, qualifying her to compete in the National Scripps Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. How is she preparing to go up against the best in the U.S.? Listen and find out.
[Music]We're here at Daybreak Elementary talking with Sophia, the champion of the Northern Utah Regional Scripps Spelling Bee. First of all, congratulations.
Sophia:
Thank you.
Anthony Godfrey:
So you are a sixth grader. How many years have you been participating in the Spelling Bee?
Sophia:
Well, this is actually my first year ever participating.
Anthony Godfrey:
Your rookie year, you took state?
Sophia:
Yeah, I did.
Anthony Godfrey:
That's fantastic. Congratulations. What made you want to participate this year?
Sophia:
Well, we just had it as an assignment, and so I did the assignment, but like I've had an interest in words before. I got a dictionary for my birthday, and I like looking up words.
Anthony Godfrey:
You, okay, wait a minute. I have to pause here. You got a dictionary for your birthday, and you love looking up words. Tell me a little bit about that. When did you first discover that you really loved words? Is this a recent thing?
Sophia:
I guess it's a recent thing. I just wanted to know more words and, you know, just increase my vocabulary and use cool-sounding words instead of just boring basic words.
Anthony Godfrey:
I'm so impressed with that. Tell me what are some of your favorite words?
Sophia:
Um, Staphylococci is one of my favorite ones.
Anthony Godfrey:
Is that a bacteria of some kind?
Sophia:
Yes, it is.
Anthony Godfrey:
Oh, is it? Okay. Can you tell me anything about it?
Sophia:
Um...
Anthony Godfrey:
It's gross, probably.
Sophia:
Yeah.
Anthony Godfrey:
Okay. What are some other favorite words of yours?
Sophia:
Hmm. Um… lagniappe sounds like a cool word.
Anthony Godfrey:
Oh, yeah. Lagniappe. Okay.
Sophia:
Yeah.
Anthony Godfrey:
What else? And is that like a prize or a treasure, or what is it exactly? I’m trying to remember what that means.
Sophia:
Maybe some kind of treasure. I'm not sure. I'm not good at remembering all the definitions.
Anthony Godfrey:
Okay. It is a cool-sounding word, though.
Sophia:
Yeah.
Anthony Godfrey:
The definition doesn't really matter if it sounds cool.
Sophia:
Yeah.
Anthony Godfrey:
What are some of the other words that you like?
Sophia:
Hmm. Um… I like words like... I'm just thinking about other words. Xanthosis is like... means yellow, like... yellow something.
Anthony Godfrey:
Xanthosis?
Sophia:
Yeah.
Anthony Godfrey;
Does that start with an X?
Sophia:
Yeah.
Anthony Godfrey:
Okay. Any other words that are particular favorites?
Sophia:
I like...psittacine. Because it comes f