For Students, Spelling Bees Meant C-A-S-H

Pupils from elementary schools and high schools in the West San Fernando Valley spelled their way to cash prizes and trophies Saturday in separate spelling bees staged by two Woodland Hills groups.

Students from El Camino High School in Woodland Hills won top honors in the high school contest conducted by the Woodland Hills Chamber of Commerce.

Fifty-two students from six public and private high schools competed before an audience of 190 at Taft High School in Woodland Hills.

Louisville High in Woodland Hills finished second and Chatsworth High was third, a chamber spokeswoman said.

Winning up to $200 in savings bonds were ninth-grader Kristin Costales, 14, of Louisville High; 10th-grader Harold Olsen, 16, of El Camino Real; 11th-grader Jessica Murray, 16, of El Camino Real, and 12th-grader Beth Carr, 17, of Taft.

Two hundred elementary school pupils competed in a contest conducted by the Woodland Hills Junior Woman’s Club at Shadow Ranch Park in Canoga Park, according to a club spokeswoman.

Winners included third-grader Bobby Heath, of Sunny Brae Avenue school in Canoga Park; fourth-grader Kate Chakmakian, of St. Mel’s School in Woodland Hills; fifth-grader Steve Kwon, of Sunny Brae; and sixth-grader Brian Melekian of St. Mel’s.