By Tyra Jackson

The Selma Times-Journal 

The Dallas County 2015 Spelling Bee ended with fourth grader Aniya Mitchell of Edgewood Elementary crowned champion after successfully spelling the word bequeath.

The competition was held Friday, Feb. 13 at the Dallas County Learning Resource Center. Twenty-fours students and 12 schools participated in the competition held for elementary through middle school students.

Mitchell placed first and won a cash award of $400. Second place winner Bailey Ross of Valley Grande Elementary won $200, and Jestin Harris of Keith Middle School took home the third place prize of $100.

Mitchell will move on to represent the county at the state competition on Saturday, March 7 in Alabaster.

Mitchell said the competition was a little intimidating since she was going up against older students.

“I thought there was going to be a lot of people there,” she said. “There were bigger grades, and I thought they might know more stuff.

Mitchell said she felt both relieved and happy when she uttered the final letters of the winning word. d

“I just practiced a lot of words, and that was it,” she said.

“My principal said no one has ever won the state competition from my school, and I want to be the first one to do that.”

Mitchell thanked her principal Joe Peterson, reading coach Jacquies Wheeler and her teacher Emily Castleberry for their help.

Her father Columbus Mitchell said his daughter is laid back, and doesn’t spend all of her time pouring over vocabulary words or school work.

She also helped other students prepare by going over word lists with them.

“I’m proud of her accomplishment, but the fact she has the ability to care about other kids is something I love about her,” her father said.

“I think that will go a long way beyond her accomplishments. I think that’s really special about her.”

Around two hours each night, Mitchell and her mother Mitchell spend time studying her vocabulary.

Her mother said it’s important parents find a balance between childhood and learning.

“She’s only 9-years-old. I don’t want her to be grown,” Linda said. “I just want her to enjoy this experience and to just keep growing and do what she does naturally.”