An eighth-grade student from Clinton Township, Dean Handley Turner, has emerged victorious at the Macomb County Regional Spelling Bee, triumphing in a challenging 12-round contest. Competing against 32 other students from fifth to eighth grade, Dean’s win marks a significant milestone as he is believed to be the first school alternate to capture the county title.
Participating in his first-ever spelling bee, Dean, who attends Wyandot Middle School within the Chippewa Valley Schools, never participated in his school’s spelling event during the previous three years. This achievement makes him one of the few spellers to win the county competition in their initial attempt. His victory is particularly notable as he is the first male champion in five years.
“I was not expecting to go this far,” Dean remarked shortly after his win. “I was expecting a bigger jump from the school spelling bee to the county spelling bee, but it was fairly close.”
The championship word that solidified his victory was “lunette,” which he spelled correctly to conclude the final round against second-place finisher Isabella “Izzie” Hu. The term, originating from French, refers to “something that has the shape of a crescent or half-moon,” according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary.
In addition to his win, Dean will receive a trip for two to Washington, D.C., in late May to compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
Event Highlights
The regional spelling bee took place on Sunday afternoon at the Macomb Intermediate School District (MISD) offices in Clinton Township. Dean stepped up to compete after the winner of his school’s event declined to participate. His preparation was extensive, as he dedicated time to studying nearly every day leading up to the competition.
“We’re really thrilled. We’re excited for him. It’s awesome,” said Dean’s father, Gary Turner. “We were proud of him to get here. No pressure. Just have fun. And he did.” Dean’s mother, Erin Turner, noted that his reading habits contributed significantly to his success. “He reads a lot. I think that helped,” she said.
Throughout the competition, Dean navigated several challenging words, spelling “corvid,” “mugwump,” “reek,” “eerily,” “principality,” “centennial,” and “porcelain.” His successful spelling of “mugwump” in the 11th round elicited a small celebration as he made a fist pump while returning to his chair on stage.
Isabella Hu, a seventh-grader at Trinity Lutheran School in Utica, finished in second place. She misspelled “trachea” after successfully spelling several other complex words. Isabella’s mother, Ecaterina Hu, expressed her pride, stating, “I didn’t know what to expect, a nail biter. I knew she would do great but didn’t know what to expect from the other spellers.”
Notable Competitors
Third place went to Gloria Yammine, an eighth-grader at St. Mary Catholic School in Mount Clemens. She previously tied for second place last year but missed the word “gradus” during the competition. Fourth place was claimed by Nevada Holden, also an eighth-grader, who stumbled on “immotile” after successfully spelling several challenging words.
In a four-way tie for sixth, Keane Gastmeier, whose sister won the previous year, missed the word “clarion.” Meanwhile, fifth-place finisher Abigail Harper of Parkway Middle School fell on “tissuey” after spelling other words correctly.
The Macomb County Spelling Bee has a rich tradition, previously sponsored by The Macomb Daily. Mike DeVault, Superintendent of the MISD, emphasized the importance of the event, stating, “The spelling bee is a long legacy of competition, but really it’s a basic element of literacy. It gives kids and families a chance to practice and think about using words, definitions, and understanding them in their true form of literacy.”
After the competition, Dean expressed enthusiasm for his upcoming trip to Washington, D.C., particularly as the United States celebrates its 250th birthday this year. Outside of spelling, Dean is an active member of the National Junior High Society, participates in Lego robotics, and is on his school’s track and field team, with aspirations to play golf at Chippewa Valley High School.
Dean also received accolades including the Sugarman Award and online subscriptions to Merriam-Webster and Britannica for his achievements. The event was officiated by Matt Brown, alongside judges Lea McAllister, Laura Coulter, and Melissa Labadie.
This year’s competition showcased the talent and dedication of young spellers, with Dean Handley Turner leading the way into a promising future in the realm of literacy and competition.
