Palm Crest student wins L.A. County spelling bee

Fifth-grader Solenn Matuska made a permanent, impossible-to-remove impression on senior policymakers and managers Wednesday when she successfully spelled “indelible” and “executive” to take first place in the 2012 Los Angeles County Elementary Spelling Bee.

Solenn, 10, who attends Palm Crest Elementary School in La Cañada Flintridge, topped a field of 23 students. Wednesday’s event took place at the Almansor Court Conference Center in Alhambra, with the most capable spellers sweating through 12 rounds and more than an hour of competition.

Second place went to Sahaily Zarzueta of Holland Middle School in Baldwin Park, who made it to the final round before being tripped up by “indelible.” Justin Phan of Dewey Avenue Elementary School in San Gabriel finished third.

All three top finishers earned savings bonds and trophies, according to the Los Angeles County Office of Education. Solenn and Sahaily continue on to the state finals in Stockton on April 21.

-- Bill Kisliuk, Times Community News

Twitter: @bkisliuk