Parent Teacher Magazine Union County Public Schools March 2015 | Page 18

Cuthbertson Middle student is UCPS spelling bee champ

It only took 12 rounds for eighthgrade Cuthbertson Middle School
student Rhea Shetty to become the
2015 UCPS Spelling Bee champion.
She took the title by correctly
spelling the word “tawdry,” which was
originally a Greek word that passed
into Latin. It’s an adjective that means
cheap and gaudy in appearance or
quality.
“I’m really happy about winning,”
Rhea said shortly after taking the
countywide title. “I didn’t think I would
get this far. I’m excited about going on
to the regional competition.”
Sandy Ridge Elementary thirdgrader Katie Tieu was the runner up
in this year’s spelling bee. She is the
daughter of Anthony and Cindy Tieu.
In preparation for the countywide
spelling bee, Rhea practiced about 15
minutes before school every day and
then again after school when time
allowed. “I started doing that in late
November when I won at the school
level.”
Her parents, Rohit and Shri Shetty,
were all smiles as they hugged their
daughter and congratulated her for
winning. “We’re very proud of her,” her
mother, Shri Shetty said.
“Every single child who took
part, every one of them, deserves
congratulations,” added her father,
Rohit Shetty. “It takes a lot of courage
to be in front of everyone, especially
their parents.”
Rhea’s principal, Kevin Nesteruk,
was on hand to support and then
congratulate Rhea.
“It was amazing the way she could
spell words and didn’t have to ask for
word origins or request they use the
word in a sentence,” Nesteruk said.
“She just knew them all from off the
top of her head. Her teacher, Jennifer
Marryat, knew from the beginning she
was going to win.”
Rhea will continue to practice daily,
she said, in preparation for the 61st
annual Charlotte Observer Regional
Spelling Bee to be held on Feb. 23 at
ImaginOn in Charlotte.
In the event Rhea is unable to
make the regional competition, the
runner up will compete.

--This article was written by Deb
Coates Bledsoe and provided courtesy
of the Communications Office of the
Union County
16 • Mar/Apr 2015 • Parent Teacher Magazine 

Cuthbertson Middle School student Rhea Shetty, at right, is the 2015 UCPS Spelling Bee
champion. She is pictured with Superintendent Dr. Mary Ellis.

Forty Union County Public Schools participated in 2015 UCPS Spelling Bee.