Sydney E. Spence

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SPENCE FAMILY

Staff Report

At the 78th Miami Herald Spelling Bee, fourth grader Sydney E. Spence beat a fifth grader to secure a spot at the competition. She completed the first round before being eliminated, but it was still a winning experience for the Airbase K-8 Center for International Education student who plans to become a chemical engineer.

Below is a Q & A with the busy student who takes her spelling prowest very seriously

Q. Were you excited about competing in the Miami Herald Spelling Bee?

A. I was very excited to be participating in the spelling bee because I got to learn a whole bunch of new words and I also was able to compete with different students from different schools. I’m also excited because now I represent my school, Air Base K-8 and I was able to beat a fifth grader for the spelling championship title.

Q. What were some of the words that were in the contest?

A. Disguise, taxidermy, tribulations, Hispaniola, tasting, drag loans, vociferous, entrepreneurs, anecdote, etc.

Q. What was the winning word for you that you had to spell?

A. Boroughs

Q. What do you like to do for fun?

A. I am a member of the top gun tumbling, member of the aquatics swim team and I have been taking piano lessons for the last five years. I am also a member of schools sewing club.

Q. What are your some of your favorite TV shows?

A. I love science and history shows like Expedition Unknown and the Good Doctor.

Q. What are some of the things you participate in during the summer?

A. I had the chance to attend the summer institute for the gifted last summer at Emory University in Atlanta Georgia and summer before that I was at the University of Miami. I made a robotic stimulation, magnetic slime, took Algebra and Statistics courses. In 2016 I had a chance to dissect at the University of Miami’s Brain fair.

Q. What are some of the things you enjoy doing for fun?

A. I love to make slime concoctions. I also enjoy baking, reading and word search puzzles. I have a YouTube Channel that I showcase my new toys.

Q. Is there anything else you want our readers to know?

A. I would like to become a chemical engineer and attend Oxford University in London.