“A man of few words,” is how Amy Quincy, assistant principal for Seymour Middle School and sponsor for the Junior Beta Club described Joseph Krane, the state spelling bee champion. Krane, a seventh grader at the middle school experienced his first trip to Nashville while with the club at their annual convention. The competition began with 30 students from across the state of Tennessee and ended up with Krane and a girl from middle Tennessee. “Obelisk” was the word the girl missed. Krane successfully spelled it and went on to win the championship with the correct spelling of “bludgeon.” “I was fortunate the judges kept the words pretty basic,” he explained, since he didn’t study before the competition. Truly, a man who doesn’t have much to say, the 12-year-old received a trophy for his accomplishment and an invitation to the National Junior Beta Convention, which will be held in June at New Orleans. There, he will compete against other state spelling bee champions. Ms. Quincy continued display her pride in describing him as a very intellectual young man who is extremely focused on his studies and self-motivated.
Additionally, Patrick Lindsey, an eighth grader from Seymour Middle School was elected as the state’s vice president for the junior beta organization. “Rollin’ on with Patrick” was his campaign slogan and he spent many nights after school preparing for the election. “It is quite an honor to be elected,” commented the third year veteran of the convention. His campaign skit placed third in the competition with a sumo wrestling theme but it was his speech, his hand shaking, and his campaign t-shirt (which all of Seymour Junior Beta wore) that clinched the election. “I had to wear a suit and tie while everyone else wore my t-shirt, but when they announced the winner, I realized it was worth it,” Lindsey commented. “My heart was in my throat while they were counting the votes, when I won, it returned to normal and I was so relieved.” The 14-year-old will also head towards New Orleans in June for the National Junior Beta Convention. There, he will compete for the national vice president. “I’m going to keep the same theme,” he said regarding his campaign, “However, the skit and speech might be tweaked a bit.”
Ms. Quincy noted that there were over 5,000 students at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville for the convention. “I am proud to have Patrick represent our state as he is an excellent young man. Actually, I’m proud of the entire group as they all behaved and performed exceptionally well,” beamed Quincy. The middle schools singing group took first place in the Songfest competition and they too will be competing at the national convention.

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