March 4, 1999 

Isla Vista Student Wins Spelling Bee

 

A fifth grader from Isla Vista School in the Goleta Union School District and a seventh grader from Laguna Blanca School took top honors in their respective categories at the annual Santa Barbara County spelling bee. Scores of students from schools countywide took part in the competition.

Aaron Marcuse-Kibitza of Goleta won the elementary division by correctly spelling the word "frangipani." Sixth grader Debbie Chong from Roosevelt School in Santa Barbara took second place and fourth grader Teddy Steinkellmer of Montecito Union took third place.

In the secondary division, Sasha Hamadani of Laguna Blanca took top honors by correctly spelling "colloquy." Seventh grader Nanu Das of Goleta Valley Junior High won second place and Goleta resident Francisco Gonzalez, a seventh grader at Crane School, took third place honors.

The top two winners in each category will proceed to the state competition.