The Bulldog Pride team from Wilson Elementary was the winner in the 2014 Ottumwa Schools Bulldog Book Bowl. The Wilson PTA will award each participant with a gift certificate to be used at the PTA Book Fair the end of April.
Teams from each district elementary school competed in the event. Bulldog Pride team members included: Skyeler Benedict, Ashley De Paz, Brandon Garcia, Landen McElroy, Randi O’Leary, and Phoenix Parker. The team was coached by Mrs. Lorrie Giltner, Mr. Ralph Skinner, and student coaches Alex Roberts and Salvador Gonzalez.
District media specialists created this quiz-type competition for fifth grade students in 2001 to promote reading. Schools select teams of up to six students to represent their school. Students read and study nine books with a school sponsor. Eight teams competed this year.
During competition, students use the titles of each book to answer questions. This year’s runners-up were Team I Read from James Elementary. Team members included: Hunter Dossey, Joshua Johnson, Yahir Ramirez, Krilin Silverfox, Leticia Sosa, and Brandon Spencer. Coaches were Mrs. Julie Schuck and Doris Whitten, a foster grandparent at James.
Eight students received the Master Quizzer distinction. A competitor becomes a Master Quizzer by answering five questions correctly during a quiz round. Master Quizzers included: Skyeler Benedict, Ashley De Paz, and Landen McElroy, Wilson; Leticia Sosa and Brandon Spencer, James; Ava Green and Meggie Parker, Horace Mann; and Chelsea Spurgeon, Liberty. Leticia Sosa was the only student to achieve Master Quizzer status twice during the event.