Who Will Elucubrate a Victory Tonight?

[Wondering what 'elucubrate' means? Answer at the bottom of this article.]

It may not be televised on ESPN like the national contest, but there's sure to be plenty of excitement at tonight's Bristol-Warren School District Spelling Bee, scheduled for 6:30 pm at Kickemuit Middle School.

Two third-place finalists from last year's bee are back this time around, with the rest of the field including repeat school winners and alternates from the 2012 competition, Mary N. Almeida, the district's Director of Literacy & Title I, explained in an email message.

Kickemuit's Caroline Alexandre, who's in grade 6, and eighth-grader Noah Hanmer return to the final showdown after reaching third place last year, noted Almeida, who's been coordinating the annual event since 2009.

Also taking part in tonight's event are:

Grade 5 winners Madison Cornell from Guiteras Elementary School and Gabriel Randall from Rockwell Elementary School; grade 6 winners Joshua DeFreitas and Amber Garcia from Kickemuit; grade 7 winners William Bullard and William Fernandes — all repeating as school champions — and returning alternates Eleanor Knapman, one of this year's seventh-grade winners; Jillian Parker, grade 5 from Colt Andrews Elementary School; and Harrison Molloy, grade 5 from Rockwell.

Started in 1992, the spelling bee "is a tremendous opportunity to recognize and encourage student achievement in the areas of spelling and vocabulary, while at the same time, expanding their word knowledge and concepts in the various disciplines  of science, math, social studies, literature, and history," Almeida wrote. "As part of our efforts to improve literacy, we recognize that spelling, vocabulary, and English usage, are all part of a strong foundation that will impact future learning and success beyond school."

Channel 10's Barbara Morse Silva and Mario Hilario will again serve as moderators for the spelling bee, to be held in the Kickemuit auditoruim.

Answer: Elucubrate means 'To produce by long and intensive effort, especially in reference to literary work.' It was the winning word in the 1980 Scripps National Spelling Bee.