MEDIA RELEASE

Two Big Island students will participate in the State Spelling Bee in Honolulu. The competition airs on PBS Hawaii (Channel 10) at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 24.

Roland Afaga, Jr., is a sixth grader Waimea Middle Public Conversion Charter School. Taggart Nakamoto is a sixth grader at Konawaena Middle School.

Taggart’s older brother, Talmadge Nakamoto, was a previous participant as Hawaii Island’s champion and won the State Bee, going on to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D. C. in 2009.

This year, students from 80 public, private, and charter schools entered the state bee.

The contestants:

* Athena Abadilla of St. Theresa School, Grade 8
* Roland Afaga Jr. of Waimea Middle Public Charter School, Grade 6
* Mindnay Nisa Felipe of Kalakaua Middle School, Grade 8
* Megan Goodman of Our Lady of Perpetual Help School, Grade 8
* Brittany Kelly of Aliamanu Middle School, Grade 8
* Ashley Membrere of Makakilo Elementary School, Grade 4
* Kacie Moku of Hongwanji Mission School, Grade 5
* Taggart Nakamoto of Konawaena Middle School, Grade 6
* Justin Shuman of Le Jardin Academy, Grade 6
* Tyrone Sumibcay of Holy Family Catholic Academy, Grade 8
* Jane Nicole Teneza of Lokelani Intermediate School, Grade 8
* Emily Threlkeld of Island School, Grade 8
* Kathleen Joy Yagyagan of Lahaina Intermediate School, Grade 8
* Toshiro Yanai of Iolani School, Grade 8

The winner of the Hawaii State Spelling Bee moves on to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in May 29-31 Washington, D. C.