June 2, 2007 — Twelve-year-old Julisa Marcel finished in the top 20 as she represented the Virgin Islands in the 2007 Scripps National Spelling Bee Competition. Marcel made V.I. history when she made it to the sixth round of play.
In a congratulatory letter to Marcel, Gov. John deJongh Jr. called her “an outstanding representative for the territory.”
The two-day competition, which involved 286 students from around the United States, took place in the nation’s capitol at the Grand Hyatt Ballroom.
Marcel, an honor student at the Church of God of Holiness Academy on St. Croix, was eliminated on the word “clypeate,” an adjective meaning shaped like a round shield.
Also the valedictorian for her sixth-grade class, Marcel says she will try to return to the competition next year. She says knowing how everything works will make the next competition easier and less stressful. “Honor student, sixth-grade valedictorian, and Scripps National Spelling Bee Top 20 Competitor. Your list of accomplishments will continue to grow because of your willpower, commitment and overall zest for achievement,” deJongh concluded.
