Another Exciting Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl in Liberty County!
by: Jaime Rearley
Students in Liberty County are quick with a buzzer and even quicker to recall a detailed fact from one of the books on the Children’s Book Award Nominees list or Georgia Peach Book Award for Teen Readers list. The ninth annual Liberty County Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl was held January 23 at the Performing Arts Center, and it was a day full of buzzing excitement!
Students were quick to buzz in during the rounds. With a total of ten questions asked per round, and each school competing in six rounds of competition, the bowl was exciting to watch! The questions required students to recall facts from the books they read at a moments notice! Many of the students prepared for months prior to the bowl! School Media Specialists coached most of the teams; however, teachers and paraprofessionals also worked with students to prepare for the bowl. Parents, coaches, and principals sat on the edge of their seats as students buzzed in and challenged questions during the bowls.
The closing ceremony for both the elementary and middle/ high bowls began with the presentation of trophies by Board of Education Chair, Mrs. Lily Baker. The second place elementary school team, Frank Long Elementary was announced. Coaches, Mrs. Becky Busby and Ms. Laura Grandstaff, led the team to the stage. Serena Burkart, Samantha Carter, Gabriella Day, N’Kiya Freeman, Seth Moye, Ashley Steward, Wyatt Swears, and Anasia Reynolds accepted the trophy from Mrs. Baker. The first place team, Lyman Hall Elementary, was announced and cheers filled the air. Coach Diana Anderson and Lyman Hall Elementary’s principal Claire Blanchard led Domonique King, Calib Rodriguez, Aaliyah Rodriguez, Connor Stephens, Lakeisha Levins, and Mia Lemke to the stage to accept the first place trophy.
At the conclusion of the middle school bowl, Midway Middle School’s team was called to accept the second place trophy. Coaches Mrs. Cristina Dover and Mrs. Nancy Probst led the team consisting of Yazmyne Edwards, Taylor Jacobes, Joshua Malek, Tillman Norsworthy, Madison Wasdin, and Cameron Wheeless to the stage to accept the trophy. Lewis Frasier Middle School was announced as the first place middle school team, and coaches Dr. Sandy Jennings and Ms. Tina Norris led the ecstatic students, Heather Beers, Patrick Underwood, Destany Thompson, Devonte King, Amber Lynn Mullins, Kayla Hutton, Monica Battle, Robert Martin, and Zachery Chenevert to accept the golden first place trophy.
The high school bowl concluded with Mrs. Baker awarding the second place trophy to Liberty County High School. Coaches Mrs. Kate Gukeisen, Mrs. Kathy Shutts, and Ms. Mary Ann Scanlon led students Yvette Ortiz, Clayton Grant, Bryanna Brown, Vanessa Lewis, Tiona Mulligan, Zoe Ross, and Amanda McGrath to accept the second place trophy. Bradwell Institute’s team was awarded first place. The team coached by Mrs. Melissa McCallar, Mrs. Nikki Lukkarinen, and Mrs. Joanna VanBelkum took the stages with students Jordan Graham, Melissa Hawkins, Shelby Logan, Mara Holandez, Aliyah Kindley-Thomas, Abigail Smythe, Angelique Hutton, and Cailin Ingram. Bradwell’s team won first place at the Georgia Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl last year and are the reigning state champions!
Chief Academic Office, Mrs. Mary Alexander, closed each bowl with inspirational closing remarks. Students, families, administrators, teachers, media specialists, and paraprofessionals celebrated the reading accomplishments of the student team members!
The LCSS Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl is only the beginning for the first place teams. They will all be advancing to the Southern Regional Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl to be held at Valdosta State University on February 7th! From there teams will hope to earn the right to attend the Division II Bowl at Georgia Southern University. If this year is like last, multiple teams from Liberty County will advance to the state level competition at the University of Georgia! We might even have a first place winner again!
