AGAWAM – On May 17, the town of Agawam hosted the 27th Annual Town-Wide Spelling Bee. The event was hosted in the auditorium of Agawam Junior High School. Fourth, fifth and sixth graders competed in their respective grade levels.

The students who participated in the spelling bee were the winners in their classroom spelling bees. All participants received a certificate of participation.

Winners of the spelling bee each received a copy of the “Upwords” board game, a ribbon and a cash prize. Cash prizes were donated by Westfield Bank of Agawam courtesy of Agawam Branch Manager Mary Ann Ludtke. First place winners received a $100 cash prize and second place winners received a $50 cash prize.

The fourth grade winners were Vincent Barrett of room 19 at Robinson Park Elementary School and Violet Pryce of room 9 at James Clark Elementary School. Barrett won first place and Pryce placed second.

The fifth grade winners were Sophia Laprise of room 105 at Roberta G. Doering School and Hannah Nguyen of room 213 at Roberta G. Doering School. Laprise won first place and Nguyen placed second.

The sixth grade winners were Adam Ross of room 321 at Roberta G. Doering School and Emma LaCaresse of room 312 at Roberta G. Doering School. Ross won first place and LaCaresse placed second.

The GFWC Agawam Junior Women’s Club sponsors the spelling bee annually. The spelling bee was moderated by GFWC Agawam Junior Women’s Club member Donna Shibley.

The judges for the event were Joanne Brown, retired Agawam High School English teacher, Theresa Ciamitori, retired Agawam Junior High School English teacher and Linda Sasso, retired Agawam High School Spanish teacher.

Kathy Mouneimneh served as pronouncer for the spelling bee. Mouneimneh is a retired Agawam High School English teacher and former School Committee member. She is a current member of the Agawam Junior Women’s Club. Mouneimneh judged the spelling bee for 11 years and 2019 was her seventh year serving as pronouncer for the event.

For more information on becoming a member of the Agawam Junior Women’s Club, visit www.facebook.com/AgawamJuniorWomensClub.

To view the spelling bee online, visit www.vimeo.com/Agawam.