As a first-time contender, Pearson Elementary School student Billy Hiticha did not expect to win the annual Garland ISD Spelling Bee this month. But that is exactly what he did, besting 57 of his peers to be named the 2014-15 champion.
“I was surprised when I won. My mom and my sister were shocked, too. It came out of nowhere,” the fifth-grader said. “I will be truthful and say I thought I was going to lose because I was a little bit nervous. Sometimes when I am nervous, I mess up. But the winning word was actually pretty easy. It was tariff.”
The district Spelling Bee featured elementary and middle school students vying for the No. 1 spot. Knowing he had to face older, more experienced students motivated the 10-year-old to dedicate hours preparing for the match.
“I studied about 200 words two to three times a week over winter break,” he said. “I would act like we were having a Spelling Bee in our living room. I asked my sister if she could help me study, and we would take turns spelling words.”
During the Jan. 16 competition, Hiticha and Jackson Technology Center for Math and Science seventh-grader Abigail Varkey were the last two contenders standing. The duo had an intense, multiple-word standoff for first place.
“I was tired because we kept fighting to see who would win,” he said. “I would get a word wrong, and she would get one right. Then, I would get a word right and she would get one wrong. And it went on for a long time.”
In the end, Hiticha snagged the trophy and brought a win to the Pony community.
“He is a hardworking, dedicated student and is well-liked by his peers,” stated Pearson Elementary fifth-grade teacher Tonya Adams. “We have never seen a student so motivated to win the Spelling Bee. We are very proud of him.”
And to show their pride, Hiticha was welcomed back to school with applause, cheers and a congratulatory poster.
“I hope he learned that if he applies himself, he can do anything,” said Pearson reading and writing teacher Amber Corjay. “We wish everybody will gain that from his experience.”
Hiticha and the following six runners-up will compete in the Dallas County Spelling Bee Feb. 18 at the University of Texas at Dallas.
- Abigail Varkey, Jackson Technology Center for Math and Science
- Ashika Khan, Cooper Elementary School
- Abiola Joda, Shugart Elementary School
- Elijah Quilantang, Hillside Academy for Excellence
- Daniel Nguyen, Lister Elementary School
- Adeeb Momen, Austin Academy for Excellence
Photo courtesy of Caren Rodriguez