The 2002 All Island Spelling Bee Champion, 12-year-old Alicia Forrest (right), Karin Cooper, The Gleaner's Overseas Publications and Production Development Manager, and spelling coach, Rev. Glen Archer (centre) make their final farewells on the tarmac at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston. They left for Washington D.C. in the United States yesterday where Alicia will compete in the Scripps Howard Spelling Bee championship. -Junior Dowie photoJAMAICA'S 2002 Spelling Bee champion, Alicia Forrest, accompanied by her parents and spelling coaches, left the island yesterday in preparation for the Scripps Howard International Spelling Bee championship in Washington D.C., USA.
The official competition will begin on May 29 and will see Alicia pitting her spelling skills against 249 other champion spellers, mostly from the United States.
But there was no sign of nervousness as she chatted with reporters prior to leaving the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston.
"I am quite relaxed. I am not really nervous yet but hopefully with God's help, I'll do my best and make my country proud," said the 12-year-old Ardenne High School student, who has faced four-hour training sessions, five days per week leading into the competition.
The aim is to fine-tune items such as her understanding and spelling of certain words and American pronunciation from spelling coach, Rev. Glen Archer and an American teacher, Mike Egan. She faces more training once she arrives in Washington.
Alicia had beaten second-place winner, Andrew Little, of Manchester High School and Ricardo Palmer, of Howard Cooke Primary, to win the Gleaner Company/Children's Own newspaper all island Spelling Bee championship in February.
She said she was not afraid because she has much in her corner: support from Jamaicans, the confidence of her spelling coach, Rev. Archer and "assistant coach" and friend, Daniel Thomas, last year's all island champion.
Alicia, who has entered several spelling competitions in the last five years, also has the prayers of her father, Orville Forrest, and support from Air Jamaica, which provided free tickets for Alicia, Rev. Archer as well as discounted tickets for Alicia's parents.
Daniel, his mother, Marva Thomas and Karin Cooper, The Gleaner's Overseas Publications and Production Development Manager, also accompanied Alicia.
The Gleaner Company is also covering accommodation at the Washington Grand Hyatt, where the competition will be held, as well as other expenses.
Transportation will be sponsored in part by the Jamaican Embassy in Washington, which will also be visited by Alicia and her companions over the weekend.
The other major sponsor of the spelling bee team is Sangster's Book Stores.
