From last place to champion
Akim Bowen rebounds from 2022 disappointment to claim Lilliput Spelling Bee title
Published:Saturday | September 2, 2023 | 12:09 AMAlbert Ferguson/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
After finishing last among a field of 22 spellers a year ago, 13-year-old Akim Bowen staged a massive upset last week to claim the 2023 title in the Rotary Club of LIFE Jamaica’s Lilliput Spelling Bee Competition.
Having correctly spelled the word ‘official’, the Herbert Morrison Technical High School grade eight student went on to collect his trophy, a laptop and a $20,000 cash prize at the Lilliput Community Resource Centre in St James last Friday.
In the hotly contested back-to-school competition, which featured students in grades three to eight, Cimaro Davis grabbed second-place honours, while Jayquan Buchanan emerged as the third-best speller.
“I am still shocked that I finally won. I thought I would come way down like last year, but thank God, I prevailed,” a proud Akim told The Gleaner.
He shared that he studied daily for the six weeks leading up to the spelldown.
“Every day, I tried to study how to spell and pronounce in excess of 60 words, studying in the mornings and afternoons before taking a break and returning at night,” the champion speller said.
INTENSE COMPETITION
He said that the competition was intense as he watched some of the other contestants who he believed could have beaten him fall out along the way.
“The guys I beat into second and third place, respectively, I had somewhat given them the edge over me, but as the competition unfolded, I held my nerves and pulled ahead,” he added.
“I experienced a profound sense of pride and joy as I bore witness to the fifth staging of the Lilliput Spelling Bee,” said Elizabeth Toby, president of the Rotary Club of LIFE.
She lauded past president Diane Williams for conceptualising the competition in 2019 as part of their annual back-to-school initiative.
Toby said that since its inception, the competition has drawn support from numerous stakeholders and has enabled the Rotary Club of LIFE to make a greater impact in the communities in which it carries out projects.
“Akim shone like a beacon of talent and determination in his quest to become the spelling bee champion, having lost miserably last year, finishing 22 out of 22 when the competition was held using the online modality,” said Toby.
She noted that as the rounds of the competition unfolded, Akim’s confidence radiated as he tackled each word with the grace and precision of a seasoned champion.
Toby said that the competition, which saw words such as ‘elucubrate’, ‘narcolepsy’, and ‘psoriasis’ being expertly pronounced and spelled under the spotlight, offers a welcome break from social media.
“It is a testament to the enduring power of words and the unifying spirit of a community that celebrates knowledge, young talent, and the joy of learning,” she said.