After one hour of competition at last night's Waltham Spelling Bee, only one team was left standing.
The winner? B-E-N-T-L-E-Y.
Dressed in matching school sweatshirts, taped glasses and graduation caps, Bentley University staff members Joanna Aven, Brianna Allard and Ruth Wishengrad took the trophy last night at McDevitt Middle School after correctly spelling 'syllepsis,' which is the use of a word to modify two subjects in a single phrase or sentence.
It was just the third word of the final round, ending a competition that was tougher, but quicker, than last year, according to contest officials.
"The words are more difficult," said Thomas O'Toole, director of English and drama for Waltham Public Schools. "Last year's competition went on for three hours. This year when we had a meeting we asked Ira (Steinberg, the competition's moderator) to pick fair but challenging words. This year we're watching teams make mistakes on easier words."
Last year, 28 words into the final round, organizers of the event decided to declare a tie between the League of Women Voters team and the Joseph M. Smith Community Health Center team.
Allard said the Bentley staffers met for an hour of studying over dinner before this year's bee, which was sponsored by the Waltham Partnership for Youth. They beat out 24 other teams of three, representing a variety of businesses and organizations across the city.
"It was really all about the team," Aven said. "We're really proud now that we are a university ... we wanted to show some pride."
Bentley gets to hold the trophy until next year's bee.
Northeast Elementary School won the competition for the best costumes, with elementary school staff wearing feather boas and sparkly hats. Principal Nadene Stein got into the spirit with a hat adorned with a miniature umbrella.
McDevitt Middle School was the first team to be eliminated this year, after missing on its attempt to spell 'phlegm.'
Businesses and organizations in the community were solicited to sponsor their own teams. All the proceeds will be donated to the Waltham Partnership For Youth, a nonprofit organization.
"The purpose of the event is two-fold," said Marina Bartley, executive director of the partnership. "It is to raise money for programs for the partnership and also to build community. The subject of the bee is consistent with the work we do. It supports education and we hope the community has a good time while we do that."
Bartley said proceeds will go toward funding the Waltham Family School, the Healthy Waltham organization and Mall Mania, an after school program for middle school students.
Jeff Gilbride can be reached at 781-398-8005 or jgilbrid@cnc.com.
