The Yup’ik and Iñupiaq Statewide spelling bees were held on April 16th, 2022 at the Earl R. Brown Auditorium at Alaska Pacific University in Anchorage, Alaska. The spelling bee featured spellers from Yup’ik and Inupiaq communities. Participing in the Yup’ik Spelling Bee were students from Akiachak, Dillingham, Nunam Iqua, Stebbins, and Wendler Middle School.
Students from Brevig Mission and Golovin participated in the Inupiaq Spelling Bee.
“It was a long, tough match and an intense draw for second and third in the Yup’ik division. It was a tight match between top spellers. All 35 words were used, additional words were selected to continue the bee, when those words were used, the field was narrowed down to the top three spellers with tied points for second and third place,” wrote Yup’ik Spelling Bee Organizer for Beginners Freda Dan of Anchorage. “Very difficult words were selected to finalize the play.”
Congratulations to the spellers, coaches, and sponsors of this event!
2021-2022 Yup’ik and Iñupiaq Spelling Bee for Beginners
Statewide Spelling Bee Results
April 16th, 2022
Yup’ik Spelling Division:
1st place: Pasrataar Alayna Canoe
7th grade, Nunam Iqua School
Lower Yukon School District
2nd place: Maqaruaq Tieran Ignatius
7th grade, Nunam Iqua School
Lower Yukon School District
3rd place: Naaqista Blaine Paje
Tukurngailnguq School
Bering Straits School District, Stebbins
Iñupiaq Spelling Division
1st place: Kopeck Kaitlyn Alston
5th grade, Brevig Mission School
Bering Straits School District
2nd place: Ikiituk Donald Olson Jr.
8th Grade, Martin L. Olson School
Bering Straits School District, Golovin
3rd place: Kimasuq Danielle Tocktoo
5th grade, Brevig Mission School
Bering Straits School District
Full List of Spellers
Yup’ik spelling division
Akiachak School
Coaches: Janice George, Roxane Nose
Rhiann Nose, 8th grade
Kunuk’aq Kathryn Kawagley, 8th grade
Akiak School
Coach: Sheila Carl
Cakiller Megan Carl, 3rd grade
Dillingham Middle School
Coach: Norma Hiratsuka
Palakia Alora Wassily, 6th grade
Alivturaq Racquel Apalayak, 8th grade
Yunguaq Trevallian “Alex” Lundgren, 8th grade
Nunam Iqua School
Coach: Savanna Strongheart
Maqaruaq Tieran Ignatius, 7th grade
Pasrata’ar Alayna Canoe, 7th grade
Arnaucuar Braylon Camille, 4th grade
Tukurngailnguq School
Coaches: Becky Atchak, Minnie Aluska, Marian Mike
Pilinguasta Brennan Paje, 5th grade
Naaqista Blaine Paje, 8th grade
Airluq Nevaeh Tom, 7th grade
Wendler Middle School, Anchorage
Coach: Rosa Luhrs
Caugluaq Ethan Pasituak, 7th grade
Iñupiaq spelling division
Brevig Mission School
Coach: Angie Olston
Kopeck Kaitlyn Alston, 5th grade
Kimasuq Danielle Tocktoo, 5th grade
Golovin School
Coach: Debbie Anungazuk
Ikiituk Donald Olson Jr., 8th grade
