Towamensing Elementary School's gymnasium was filled with a-n-t-i-c-i-p-a-t-i-o-n last week during the school's first Spelling Bee.

Prior to the big event, all the fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grade homerooms held individual spelling bees. In the first phase of Thursday's Spelling Bee, the first, second and third winners from each homeroom competed against each other. In the second phase, the winner of each grade competed against each other.The top three homeroom winners were:Fourth grade• Mrs. Deem: first, Kayla Lesher; second, Tabitha Pysher; and third, Lucas Heydt• Mrs. McKeon: first, Donovan Beers; second, Raegan Nemeth; and third, Max Chickey• Ms. Ruddick: first, Gabrielle Everitt; second, Isabella Mujevic; third, Jack RolappeFifth grade• Mrs. Ward: first, Brock Bollinger; second, Billy Drake; and third, Carly Schwenger• Mr. Zurn: first, Gina Laviolette; second, Derek Rea; third, Molly CampbellSixth grade• Mrs. Ivancich: first, Gianna Crispo; second, Ethan Seipel; and third, Colby Kunkle• Mrs. Serfass: first, Jordan Nelson; second, Tyler Roe; and third, Seth Wisser• Mr. Zeky: first, Kelly Heinick; second, Josh Mooney; and third, Shawn Gardner.As the students sat waiting for it to begin, many appeared nervous and tense.After the fourth-grade round, Isabella Mujevic was the winner. In a nail-biting competition that went through 56 words, Billy Drake was declared the fifth-grade winner. Kelly Heinick won the sixth-grade round.In the second phase, fifth-grader Billy Drake was the first to be eliminated. His word was "paragraph." He spelled it right but forgot to repeat the word.Isabella Mujevic and Kelly Heinick went through 36 words before Isabella misspelled "measles." Kelly spelled it correctly and then spelled her word, "puzzling," correctly, making her the winner.Kelly received a trophy and Isabella and Billy received medals for second and third place.It was the idea of Principal Christine Steigerwalt to hold the spelling bee, and Kristin Heller, the school's librarian and gifted teacher, organized it. Heller also served as master of ceremonies.The judges were reading specialists, Stacey Olewine and Kathryn Malay. Tammy Hoffman, speech therapist, was the "pronouncer" of the words. Music teacher Natalie Madeira was the Spelling Bee mascot, complete with wings and antenna."It was a wonderful event. That fifth-grade round was very exciting. It appears that we will have our second Spelling Bee next year," Madeira said.