On March 7th, over 40 students competed in the WHYY Billy Penn South Jersey Regional Spelling Bee, which lasted two hours and featured 27 rounds of intense spelling. Representing Camden’s Promise was 7th grader Alina Perez Garcia, who showcased patience, focus, and determination, earning 3rd place.
Back in January, Camden’s Promise held its own spelling bee, giving students from all grade levels a chance to compete for the honor of representing the school. Alina emerged victorious at the school level, setting the stage for her impressive performance at regionals.
Garcia was featured in a news article alongside the winner, proudly holding her trophy at the end of the spelling bee. We caught up with her to ask about her experience.
“At first, I was really anxious and excited at the same time. It didn’t matter to me if I won or lost,” she explained. “As the bee went on, I wasn’t as anxious anymore.”
With her nerves under control, she was able to tackle some of the most challenging words with ease and was grateful for the opportunity.
“I’m actually satisfied that I came in third place,” Garcia said. “The people who came in first and second were amazing.”
Mr. Alt, the organizer of the Camden’s Promise Spelling Bee, shared his thoughts about seeing Garcia compete at the regionals.
“Alina has been a standout speller since I first met her in fifth grade, and she’s become stronger each year,” he said. “Her secret is simple: practice, practice, and more practice. Alina is a serious student, but even she couldn’t help but smile when she heard the final word, she’d have to spell SCALPEL to win the Camden’s Promise bee. Nobody is born knowing how to spell. Alina’s success is purely the result of her hard work, dedication, and focus. She’s a great example for all of her classmates.”
Alina Perez Garcia is the true example of hard work, practice, determination and poise. Something that Mr. Alt and all the teachers at Camden’s Charter School Network strives for.