The DeSoto Independent School District (ISD) Spelling Bee ended after 21 rounds. The event lasted for nearly three hours and featured the district’s best spellers. Sixth-grade student Cassandra Piggatt from Katherine Johnson Technology Magnet Academy won the competition. Benjamin Pearson, a fifth-grade student from Ruby Young Personalized Steam Academy, came in second. The audience responded positively as the winners were announced.
Cassandra Piggatt shared her surprise and happiness about her win. She said, ‘It feels great to be the winner. I never thought I would win the district.’ She also mentioned her eagerness for the next spelling bee. The event started with the introduction of the students, judges, and recordkeepers. Education advocate and speaker Lady Jade, formerly of K104 FM radio, welcomed everyone.
The competition involved 16 students from grades one through eight. The first word of the competition was ‘broken.’ After two rounds, all spellers were still in the competition. The number of spellers reduced to six in rounds three and four. By round six, only four students were left, two from elementary and two from middle school. By round 12, only Piggatt and Pearson were left.