LEE'S SUMMIT, Mo. — Lee’s Summit is home to one of the 243 spellers who will gather in Washington, D.C. in late May to compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
Beckett Griffin, 11, attends William Joseph Underwood Elementary. She described her feelings of excitement multiple times during our interview.
“I know I’m saying excited a lot. I’m just really excited, that’s all,” she said. “I'm elated right now. I’m really honored that I get to go to the National Spelling Bee.”
The fifth grader studies two to three hours a day in between volleyball, Girl Scouts and student council meetings.
“I always try to go full on, 100%, when I do stuff,” Beckett said. “I like to persevere, move on and keep trying no matter what.”
Beckett said she particularly likes to study words that sound different from how they appear on paper.
“I really like spelling words that sound different than how they are spelled, like Ouagadougou," she said.
Beckett’s former teacher, Kristen Whipple, and KSHB 41's Abby Dodge did not pass her spelling test.
“Even though Beckett has very strong academic skills, she always wanted to learn more, always wanted to know more," Whipple said.
Beckett said her experience in her local spelling bee had a profound impact on her.
“I think the spelling bee journey has really lifted me up and given me confidence,” she said.
Whipple said she anticipates a large cheering section for Beckett back in Kansas City.
“It is such an important lesson to show and an example to show her classmates that hard work pays off and to persevere when things get hard,” Whipple said. "If you set your mind to something and you put in the work, you can make it happen.”
The Scripps National Spelling Bee airs on ION starting May 28.
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