HOPEWELL - "Wanderlust, W-A-N-D-E-R-L-U-S-T," spelled Azeem
Holland, winner of the Hopewell Public Schools spelling bee.
Carter G. Woodson Middle School auditorium hosted the 9:30 a.m.
spelling bee on Thursday with proud parents, students and
teachers. Judges were librarian Felecia Irving, language arts
lead teacher Kim Harrison and gifted enrichment teacher Jane
Bujakowski. The judges sat at a table on stage near 10 nervous
students who sat in chairs waiting to have their number called.
Before beginning rounds, a dictionary and McDonald's gift card
were announced as the ultimate prize. All participants received
McDonald's gift cards. A practice round began after an
explanation for what happens when a word was misspelled. Judges
tapped a bell to inform the participant and crowd if a word was
spelled incorrectly. Judges pronounced and used words in a
sentence before each student attempted to spell them using a
microphone.  "I'm proud of our students. They prepare for this
every year," said Felecia Irving. "T