Mission, Texas - After starting with a field of 32 competitors, it took about an hour to whittle that number down to one person, who is this year’s top speller in Mission CISD (Consolidated Independent School District). Kitana Garza, an eighth grader from Mission Jr. High School (MJH), won this year’s annual district spelling bee. Garza will now advance to the 28th Annual Rio Grande Valley Regional Spelling Bee on Saturday, March 5, at Texas State Technical College in Harlingen, Texas.
Aleyna Villarreal, a third grader from Waitz Elementary School came in second place. Third place went to Alyssa Beas, a fourth grader at Mims Elementary School.
The other top spellers who competed in this year’s Mission CISD District Spelling Bee were: Gabriel Marquez, Escobar/Rios Elementary School; Andre Walker, Bryan Elementary School; Jamila Dominguez-Rodriguez, Cantu Elementary School; Djennae Addison, Alton Elementary School; Clarisa Cortina, Salinas Elementary School; Jennifer Alonzo, Waitz Elementary School; Alma Galot, R. Cantu Jr. High School; Damian Rodriguez, Marcell Elementary School; Marco Antonio, R. Cantu Jr. High School; Edith Pena, Midkiff Elementary School; Joshua I. Valadez, Salinas Elementary School; Enrique Hernandez, Marcell Elementary School; Jared Garza, Pearson Elementary School; Priscilla Leyva, Escobar/Rios Elementary School; Oscar Cano, Cavazos Elementary School; Haley Rodriguez, Castro Elementary School; Yarah Garcia, K. White Jr. High School; Roque “Rocky” Longoria, Mims Elementary School; Phoebe Garcilazo, Leal Elementary School; Sheryln Farias, Pearson Elementary School; Victoria Molina, K. White Jr. High School; Adan Ramirez, Alton Elementary School; Sebastian Zamarripa, Bryan Elementary School; Monserrat Rojas, Castro Elementary School; Anahi Silva, Cantu Elementary School; Abrianna Garcia, Cavazos Elementary School; Issac Rodriguez, Leal Elementary School; Enrique Ordaz, Midkiff Elementary School; Jackie Padilla, Mission Jr. High School.
Pictured from left to right are the top three spellers in this year’s Mission CISD District Spelling Bee: Aleyna Villarreal, second place; Kitana Garza, first place; Alyssa Beas, third place.
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