IN THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE OF JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI
Title
A RESOLUTION congratulating Justin Shilhanek upon winning the Jackson County Spelling Bee and advancing to finals in the national spelling bee competition in Washington, D.C.
Intro
RESOLUTION 13725, June 11, 2001
INTRODUCED BY Bob Spence, County Legislator
Body
WHEREAS, Jackson County Spelling Bee champion Justin Alexander Shilhanek is a sixth grader at William Joseph Underwood Elementary School in Lee's Summit; and,
WHEREAS, he was one of five young people from Missouri, and the only contestant from the Kansas City metropolitan area, to advance to the second round in the Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C; and,
WHEREAS, he won the spelling bee at Underwood Elementary, and then earned a trip to the finals by winning the Jackson County Spelling Bee in March, by correctly spelling the word "gorgonize;" and,
WHEREAS, Justin's mother, Linda Shilhanek, estimates he studied about ten hours per week beginning in November; and,
WHEREAS, Justin finished in 35th place among 86 other super spellers, advancing to the finals from a field of 248 contestants in the national competition; and,
WHEREAS, he advanced through the first three rounds of the national competition by spelling "anacoluthon," "mallet," and "homeostasis;" and,
WHEREAS, when Justin first heard his word "anacoluthon," he didn't recognize it, saying "The word didn't click until Dr. Cameron (the pronouncer) told me it was of Greek origin;" and,
WHEREAS, he said "I was really nervous, but once I found out is was Greek in origin, it just popped into my head;" and,
WHEREAS, before the national competition began, Justin, his mom and dad, Linda and Damon Shilhanek, and his brother, Jared, toured the National Cathedral, Georgetown, and the National Zoo; now therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the County Legislature of Jackson County, Missouri, that the Legislature congratulates Justin Shilhanek upo...
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