Schnell explains that half the words at a spelling bee are from a study list given to each participant. “The other half are just random. They aren’t on the list.” Between now and the end of May, Schnell will study her list and literally go through words in the dictionary. “I study with my father a lot plus I have a good memory so this comes easily to me. It’s fun. And we have a good laugh when we come across a word we can’t pronounce.”
Schnell’s spelling bee journey began when she won the Magsig Middle School bee in January; however, she won the school bee as a sixth-grader and last year placed fifth in the regional bee.
Schnell is an avid reader and says it helps a lot in her preparation. “When I’m reading, I see a lot of words, so I become familiar with them,” she said. “Good spelling, grammar and mechanics are important. I just feel it’s better for me in the long run to be proficient in these things.”
When studying Schnell said she needs a calm environment. “During a spelling bee, it’s very quiet and calm, so I like the same atmosphere when I’m studying.”
At a spelling bee participants have two minutes and 30 seconds to spell the word. They are allowed to ask for the definition, the word’s part of speech, the word’s use in a sentence, the word’s language of origin, and alternate pronunciations and definitions. “I like words, and when I hear a word I’m unfamiliar with, it can be helpful hearing it used in a sentence.”
She said prepping for the spelling bee has helped her with classwork. For example, she may learn to spell a difficult word and then come across it in a science or social studies class. Already being familiar with these words helps her understand concepts more quickly.
Although preparing for a spelling bee might seem like a lonely pursuit, Schnell said that she enjoys it. She has the support of her parents, Susan and Stephen Schnell and her English teacher Lisa Martinez, who is thrilled to see her compete on the national stage.
“Lane is an extremely bright student; however, most people know Lane not only for her intelligence, but her quick wit and humor,” Martinez said. “She has countless interests in all subject areas and readily explores those deeply on her own time. In addition to Lane’s ability to spell high level complex words, she is often seen wearing earbuds and listening to a wide range of music.”
In addition to spelling, Lane also stays involved in her school and community. She is a Girl Scout, active at her church, works as an office aide at school and is a “lunch buddy,” eating lunch with students with special needs at Magsig.
The 90th Scripps National Spelling Bee welcomes 290 participants from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Department of Defense Schools in Europe. Spellers from the Bahamas, Canada, Ghana, Jamaica, Japan and South Korea will also participate.
The spelling bee will be aired on ESPN.
Contact this contributing writer at pgmcginnis45419@yahoo.com.
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