Mason Sowder Wins 2025 Hardeman County District-wide Spelling Bee {video}
After 15 rounds of spelling words, Mason Sowder, of Toone Elementary School (TES) stood alone on the stage as the winner of the annual 2025 Hardeman County District-Wide Spelling Bee. Sowder, an eighth-grade student, correctly spelled the word “kindling” and became the winner adding a wonderful memory to his last year as a middle school student.
Mason Sowder has been moving towards this day for a few years. In 2023, Mason earned second place in the Hardeman County Spelling Bee after placing third in the TES Spelling Bee that same school year.
The schools represented on Monday, January 27, 2025, were Bolivar Elementary School (BES), Bolivar Middle School (BMS), Hornsby Elementary School (HES), Grand Junction Elementary School (GJES), Middleton Elementary School (MES), Middleton Middle School (MMS), Toone Elementary School (TES), and Whiteville Elementary School (WES). Admittedly, some of the students were nervous about taking the stage for the spelling bee. Hardeman County Schools Director Dr. Christy Smith shared encouraging words emphasizing how proud everyone was of all of them for making it to this level of competition and being able to present on the stage. Before the Spelling Bee began, the 17 students completed a practice round, which helped them become familiar with protocol and more comfortable for the competition.
Some of the challenging words, which reduced the number of competitors as early as the second round, included bypass, bowler, locust, and vermin. It was not until round 11 that only four spellers remained with BMS’ Hanan Alnamrani, BES’ Quenelius King, and TES’ Riyath Salah and Mason Sowder. Rounds 12 and 13 continued with only three contestants, Hanan, Mason, and Quenelius. Rounds 14 and 15 left Hanan and Mason battling it out to the end.
Mason took his winning in stride sharing it “feels good”! His preparation for the spelling bee included reading over the words for practice. When asked advice he would give to future spelling bee participants, his comment was simple.
“Pay attention,” said Mason, which is just what he did throughout the competition.
It was the first year sisters Kennedy Ammons and Kierstyn Ammons, representing BES and BMS respectively, competed in the district-wide Spelling Bee. Although both girls admitted to being nervous, Kennedy made it through to round six and Kierstyn made it to round seven. Both studied together to prepare for the Spelling Bee and were cheered on by their parents, grandmother, and other relatives, who came out to support them.
“We are just really proud they are putting focus on academics, and we are proud to showcase their abilities and what they were able to do,” said Dr. Smith, referring to the students. “The parents’ support is huge in their education.”
The Hardeman County District-Wide Spelling Bee is a local competition for fourth through eighth grade students held annually to determine the spelling bee winner from among the eight participating area schools. The winner of that contest is for Hardeman County only. If a Hardeman County School is registered with the Scripps National Spelling Bee, its first-place winner from this school year will continue to the 2025 Tennessee Titans Regional Spelling Bee, which will be held at the Nissan Stadium in March 2025.
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