Harrisonville Middle School’s Tyler Kimbell repeats as district spelling bee champion
By correctly spelling “anarchy,” eighth-grader Tyler Kimbell earned the right to represent the Harrisonville School District at the Cass County Spelling Bee in March.
Tyler won the district spelling bee on Jan. 26 to advance to the county competition for the third time. He also advanced to the county bee in 2015 and 2017.
The spelling bee is open to students in fourth through eighth grades. Each Communication Arts class at Harrisonville Middle School participated in a class bee and those winners advanced to the district competition.
The winners of the McEowen Elementary School spelling bee also advanced.
Fifth-grader Quincy Carter was the runner-up and will compete at the county bee if Tyler cannot.
Other students competing at the district bee were Brenton Sorenson, Zander Mason, Karter Johnston, Toby Johnson, Lucas Smith, Dani Knight, Kathryn Moody, Ariel Atkin, Dejon Bledsoe, Morgan Rushly, Mikayla Myler, Kaylee Clark, Elizabeth Allen, Makayla Stewart, Damien Perkins, Jackson Hays, Chloe Shepard, Katie Fitzgerald, Shawn Holzer, Collin Wyzard, Briana Close, Amy Rhodes, Byron Brooks and Audrey Coffey.
Student honored at Career Center
Harrisonville High School Student Ariel Hosman was the January Student of the Month at Cass Career Center, where she is in the Criminal Justice/CSI program.
Cass County Elks Lodge #2791 sponsors the award.
In addition to strong academics, officials said, Hosman has volunteered for every community-service event and donated to every charitable event conducted by Cass Career Center. She often comes in on Saturdays and Sundays for volunteer work and is helpful to other students during the school day.
Ray-Pec announces forensics/debate results
Raymore-Peculiar High School placed second in the individual events sweepstakes and fifth in the debate sweepstakes at the Greater Kansas City Suburban Conference tournament Jan. 19-20 at Blue Springs High School.
Ian Van Horn and Ella Schnake won first place in Humorous Interpretation and Storytelling, respectively.
Chloe Coons and Abby Ball (Duo Interpretation), Larissa Wratney (Storytelling), Tevin Chavez (Program Oral Interpretation), Jillian Humke (Original Oratory), and Julie Garibay (Lincoln-Douglas Debate) each finished second.
Ashley Sclesky finished third in Humorous Interpretation, and several other students took home awards for finishing in fourth through eighth place.
Pleasant Hill chamber honors local teacher
The Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce has chosen Sheryl Book as the 2018 Chamber of Commerce Teacher of the Year.
Book is a language arts teacher at Pleasant Hill High School who has worked in the district since 2015. She was recognized for her dedication and engaging strategies in her classroom.
Students picked for O’Brian leadership seminar
Students from Harrisonville and Raymore-Peculiar High Schools have been nominated to attend the Hugh O’Brian State Leadership Seminar this June in Cape Girardeau, Mo.
The Harrisonville students who chosen by the faculty are Jessi Buerge, Jayden Osborn and Maddie Hoffman. Their attendance at the seminar is funded by the Harrisonville Public School Foundation.
Ray-Pec chose Taylor Hermsmeier, Dawn’Yel Iverson and Emma Menzel, with Jillian Humke as the alternate. The high school pays the cost for each student.
During the three-day seminar, students will participate in hands-on leadership activities, meet Missouri leaders, and explore their own leadership skills, while learning how to lead others and make a positive impact.
The seminar was created by the late actor Hugh O’Brian, perhaps best known as TV’s Wyatt Earp.
Belton, Harrisonville performers in spotlight
Three Belton High School students — Victoria Garsow, Chad Kawakami and Jalyn Jones — were cast in the Musical Works opening number and performed for attendees at the recent Missouri State Thespian Conference.
Other Belton students received individual accolades at the gathering, which took place Jan. 10-12 in St. Louis: Daniel Miller, who performed in the Page to Stage One-Act play; Tye Voss, who received a superior rating on his monologue presentations; and Archer Wright, who received an excellent rating for a musical solo.
Additionally, the Pirate Improv team received an excellent rating, while Belton Thespians Troupe #1158 received Honor Troupe status.
“Students took workshops, saw performances, showed off their talents and skills, spoke to universities and professionals in the performing arts,” sponsor Tabatha Babcock said. “They made connections, they made friends and that makes a difference.”
Seven students from Harrisonville High School also participated in the conference, becoming a sister troupe with a group from Grandview High School.
Senior Cody Jones was offered a college scholarship to State Fair Community College as a theater major.
Compiled by Elaine Adams, Special to The Democrat
This story was originally published February 1, 2018 at 6:54 PM with the headline "Harrisonville Middle School’s Tyler Kimbell repeats as district spelling bee champion."