Jollification took place Saturday morning at the Blount County Public Library for the 27th Annual Adult Spelling Bee, organized by the Adult Education Foundation of Blount County.
Fifteen teams formed for a chance to take on words like “beryllium,” “ haberdashery,” and “portentously.”
The contest, held in the library’s main gallery, worked in rounds. Spelling Master Carl Gombert, who sat at a long table with the contest’s judges, challenged each team with a word to spell. Unlike school spelling bees, the teams of two could confer with one another.
Gombert told the hopeful spellers, “This is not like the spelling bees that you may have bad memories of from childhood. This is a win-win situation for everybody and it’s a good cause.”
Gombert was flanked by judges — judge David Duggan, former TN state representative Bob Ramsey and commissioner Ron French.
A small gong sat on the table’s edge and would be rung if a team misspelled their word.
The contest ended after six rounds. The final three teams to face off were The Alcoa Kiwanis, Kizer & Black Attorneys and Stranger Things — Ross.
The Alcoa Kiwanis, Morgan Hodson and Shawn Banks, were rung out of the fifth round for replacing the “y” for an “e” while spelling the word “misanthropy.”
Words that stumped other teams included “noisome” and “offal.”
Team Kizer & Black Attorneys, PLLC, composed of Andy Sneed and Kari Keeling, took home the grand prize for tackling the word “boudoir.”
It was Keeling’s first time entering the spelling bee but Sneed had participated for several years and even had a win under his belt.
Sneed said he’s always loved spelling and felt relaxed during the event. He said he used the recommended study guide a little bit but never shared it with Keeling. “I wasn’t worried about her,” said Sneed, “she was the ringer.”
The runners-up, Team Stranger Things — Ross, composed of Jim Tente and Jim Quagliana, had a great run but hiccupped at the word “satori.”
There was a question of whether or not Tente spelled the word correctly due to the clarity of his delivery. In the end, judges determined that the gong must be rung.
This was Tente’s first time entering the competition. To make things interesting, he and his teammate Quagliana were paired together the night before due to the original team members being unable to participate.
Tente and Quagliana ended up working wonderfully together and may even form a team at next year’s spelling bee, said Tente.
The Adult Spelling Bee helps to raise money to implement the Adult Education Foundation’s programming.
The foundation helps to support adult education by assisting unemployed and underemployed adults with programs like computer classes, digital literacy and assistance with resumé building.
The morning’s Master of Ceremonies, Executive Director Jackie Taylor said, “What we do is we help other adults change their lives for the better.”
She said the foundation assists adults with various needs, like completing a high school equivalency or citizenship test. They have also worked with classes of students from the Justice Center to help them transition back into the community once they are released, she explained. These programs are offered at no cost.
Taylor said that when adults achieve these types of goals, it can change their whole family’s life for the better. She said young adults who have gone through the foundation’s programs will contact her to update her on different milestones, like purchasing their first car or house.
“It just gives me goosebumps to talk about it,” she said.
Other participants included: Blount Memorial Hospital — Mary Spradling and Gary Miller; Chilhowee Club — Susan Bihl and Diane Hicks; Dwight Price Group Realty Executives Associates, in memory of Seth Price — Sue Hall and Lee Ann Mayhall; Empirical Spellers — Dr. Bob Richmond and Dr. Kathleen Mavournin; First United Methodist Church — Erin Gilliland and Lisa McDaniel-Tipton; Smith Life and Legacy — Dr. Christie Martin and Bonny Millard; Spellbound — Pete James and Brenda Jinkins; Stranger Things — Matt — Angela Montoya and Renee Kyle; Team Hall — Mike and Teresa Rocco; The Daily Times — Jeff Craft and Pam Campbell; T. Wilson Electrical — Kathleen Christy and Jesse Gilliland; and West Chevrolet — Liz Moore and Ron Verville.
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