By Joe Camporeale
Staff Writer
Published April 9, 2008

Decorations, balloons and face painting sent a buzz throughout the Tenafly Jewish Community Center in preparation for the SCORE! Educational Center Spelling Bee. SCORE!, an educational unit of the Washington Post Company, held the free event, open to all students from the Northern Valley area, ranging from grades K-10.

"The benefits of participating in the spelling bee reach beyond improving language skills because children will be interacting in a group setting, they will build their self-confidence, their ability to thrive under pressure and their public speaking skills," said Steven Johnson, vice president of education for SCORE! "They will also have the opportunity to meet other children and make new friends in the community."

The tournament kicked off with the grade K-2 bracket. Dozens of students lined up eagerly to get their chance to spell on stage. With the words getting more difficult as each round passed, the field started to narrow until second grader Justin Witmondt of Englewood prevailed as the winner of his division.

Round two featured more of the same. Dozens of students stepped on stage to spell words that were picked at random until only one speller remained. It was fourth grader and Tenafly resident David Antabian who would move on to the final to represent the grade 3-5 division.

With only one division remaining, grades 6-10, students once again went back and forth trying to win their respective brackets. Tenth grader and Cresskill resident, Ji Hun Lee, out-lasted the competition and advanced to the "Final Bee" round.

Englewood Mayor Michael Wildes was brought on stage as the special guest word reader for the final round.

"It is always a good thing to be involved with the community," said Wildes, as he spoke to parents and students. "This is a special weekend event and I’m happy to be part of it."

Each finalist was given a word with difficulty based on grade level. With all of the finalists correctly spelling word after word, it seemed as though the competition could go on all day. Lee, however, rose above the competition, and spelled "squeeze" to win the "Final Bee."

"It was a fun experience," said Lee. "Too be honest, I’m surprised I won the whole competition."

The humble Lee left the competition with the grand prize: an iPod Nano. Antabian left with the second place prize, an iPod shuffle, while Witmondt took home the third place prize, an iTunes $25 gift card.