By Daviot Kelly, Staff ReporterA POKER-FACED appearance and meticulous method got Kevaughn Newland of Camperdown High in the 2003/04 Spelling Bee Kingston Parish Finals.
Since there was nothing wrong with his strategy, he didn't change anything and made it two parish titles in consecutive years. He must be considered one of the favourites to win the National Final as he finished third last year.
NOT SATISFIED
"When I went to the National Finals last year and placed third, I wasn't satisfied. Coming back this year it was easy because I knew most of the words. But it was hard because going back to the Parish Finals, if I had lost, it would have been harder to take. That's where the pressure came in," he said.
During the Parish and National Finals, Kevaughn barely smiled. That's part of his strategy: intense focus on what he's doing. During the interview, he was visibly more relaxed when speaking about the competition. Still, he prefers not to be in the limelight more than
necessary, especially when it's time to have his picture taken. Aside from the possibility of winning the most coveted prize in spelling in the island, Kevaughn still has to be an ordinary student.
BUDDING SPORTS STAR
The shy eighth-grade student from Red Hills loves English language and social studies and is also a budding sports star. He already plays cricket, but also shows promise as a 400 metre runner. He's unsure about the track though, and for now, will stick to the willow and leather. He believes he will either become a professional cricketer or a computer analyst. He is quietly confident that this year he can win the big prize.
"Some of the recent champions have won it in their second try, so the pressure is on me to maintain that. I am hoping and praying that I will succeed. With hard work and the mercies of God, I will."
