[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 33 (Friday, February 17, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E134]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING THE WINNERS OF THE 2022-2023 BROWNSVILLE ISD SPELLING BEE

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                         HON. VICENTE GONZALEZ

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, February 17, 2023

  Mr. VICENTE GONZALEZ of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
winners of the 2022-2023 Brownsville ISD Spelling Bee, with special 
recognition to Nicholas Torres, who took home the first-place prize.
  For those who may not be as familiar with the South Texas region, the 
Brownsville Independent School District (ISD) is the largest employer 
in the entire Rio Grande Valley. With an enrollment of more than 40,000 
thousand students with a 95.4 percent graduation rate, Brownsville ISD 
is thriving thanks to its dedicated faculty and staff.
  The brisk February air was not enough to deter the more than 40 
contestants who took part in the Brownsville ISO Spelling Bee, as well 
as the parents, family, friends, and alternates who joined them in the 
morning of February 4, 2023. More than 30 elementary schools and 10 
middle schools were represented in the Spelling Bee, which has been 
held annually for more than 50 years. Additionally, each contestant was 
already a winner before the contest even started; every campus has an 
individual spelling bee, and the winners all competed in this event.
  With the spelling bee lasting more than an hour and a half, each 
contestant made all of South Texas proud. Aime Garcia, from Putegnat 
Elementary, finished 5th. Javier Ramirez, of Hudson Elementary, 
finished 4th. Alexandra Garcia, of Manzano Middle School, finished 3rd. 
And Jack Kocaya, of Stell Middle School, finished second.
  For the final two words, Nicholas Torres did not need the definition, 
part of speech, or for the judge to use the words in a sentence. After 
lawlessly spelling both bumptious, (self-assertive or proud to an 
irritating degree) and subsequent (coming after something in time; 
following) Nicholas Torres, of Egly Elementary, became the 2023 
Brownsville ISD Spelling Bee champion.
  Mr. Speaker, Nicholas Torres, the rest of the spelling bee champions, 
and all the educators involved in this year's spelling bee represent 
the best and brightest in our education system. I cannot wait to see 
what Nicholas and these bright young scholars accomplish in their 
future, and I am thankful for all the educators and parents who have 
given up so much to get them there.

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