The National Coca Cola Spelling Bee brings celebrates the country's best spellers - but that's for hearing children.
Hearing Impaired kids have the Finger Spelling B. It showcases some of the best finger-spellers who use sign language to spell out their words.
7News was there and with a little help from sign language translators, we spoke with the winners of the junior and senior categories.
Here's what they told us:
Floriano Chun - Father of Omica, 1st Place Sr.
"I am very proud of her. I know that she was going to be in the top ranks, and I am glad for her achievement. She is a deaf student, but she really tries hard. She works on sign language dictionaries, and research on the internet. We are also giving her a lot of encouragement and motivation as parents."
Isaac Penner - Translator
"She started on November 5 practicing. For 3 weeks she was just practicing."
Geovanni Brackett - Plus TV
"Ask her if she was nervous at the end there."
Isaac Penner - Translator
"A little bit."
Geovanni Brackett - Plus TV
"Ask her if she expected to win, because it was so close."
Isaac Penner
"She felt she would, yeah."
Geovanni Brackett
"Ask her what she wants to be when she gets older."
Isaac Penner
"She is planning to go back to CDI and advance more in her studies."
Ronaldo Coc - Father of Wilford, 1st Place Jr.
"My wife and I fight hard to raise him and treat him the same as the rest who we have at home. We didn't take it hard that he is deaf. We took it as though he is normal. I appreciate him to CDI, and I will keep him there to learn more."
This was the 17th Edition of the event.
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