Academy of Excellence student wins National Library spelling bee

Finalists: From left are Tirani Narine, Sanjeev Persaud, Rachel Shivdyal, Narissa Williams, Esdil Bailey and Marty Phillips.
Finalists: From left are Tirani Narine, Sanjeev Persaud, Rachel Shivdyal, Narissa Williams, Esdil Bailey and Marty Phillips.

Tirani Narine, a student of the Academy of Excellence, yesterday spelled his way to victory in finals of the National Library/Assuria Life annual Spelling Bee.

Narine and five others participated in the final of the competition, which was was held at the National Library.

The other finalists were Sanjeev Persaud, also of the Academy of Excellence, Narissa Williams and Esdil Bailey, of Tucville Primary, Marty Phillips, of Den Amstel Primary, and Rachel Shivdyal, of Winfer Gardens Primary.

The students were given a series of words, which they had 30 seconds to spell correctly in each instance. They had the opportunity to have the word used in a sentence or for the host to give the definition of the word to aid their understanding of the word origins.

At the end of the competition, the students who placed first, second and third were presented with monetary prizes, trophies and tokens for participating.

Shivdyal and Bailey got second and third place, respectively. 

The other students who participated in the earlier rounds of the competition were also presented with tokens of participation.