Superior sixth-grader competes in Treasure State Spelling Bee
Superior sixth-grader (number 32), Payton Milender traveled to Billings on Saturday, March 18 to compete in the Treasure State Spelling Bee. Aidan Veress from Gardiner won the event. (Photo courtesy of Kami Miller Milender).
On Saturday, students from all over Montana traveled to Rocky Mountain College to compete in the Treasure State Spelling Bee. Superior student, Payton Milender had won the Mineral County Spelling Bee Feb. 22 and qualified for State. She was number 32 and joined 58 challengers in Billings vying for the grand prize.
Though Milender didn’t win, the trip and competition was a fun experience for the family, according to a Facebook post. The post also garnered an outpouring of community support for the sixth-grader with comments including “awesome young lady, we are all proud of you!” and “great job!”
Thirteen-year-old Aidan Veress from Gardiner won, spelling the word “duende” (the power to attract through personal magnetism and charm) and “esbat” (a meeting of a coven of witches). Siena Popiel, an eighth grader from Sacajawea Middle School in Bozeman took second place, according to the Independent Record.