Cedar Park Christian School — Mountlake Terrace eighth grader Abigail Mulugeta finished ninth at the ACSI Junior High National Spelling Bee on May 3 at Plano, Texas. Mulugeta was one of about 50 students nationwide to qualify for and compete at the Association of Christian Schools International bee.

Mulugeta had earned her way to the national competition by placing first in an ACSI Junior High District spelling bee in late January, followed by another top finish at an ACSI Regional bee in February. Mulugeta and the other national qualifiers faced six hours of competition in Plato before a national champion was crowned.

Cedar Park Christian School — Mountlake Terrace helped get Mulugeta to the national competition through cash gifts and a fundraiser. “We were able to raise $777 for the trip through donations given from our families during Chapel and a root beer float sale during lunch time,” said Jody Speck, CPCS-MLT Registrar and Administrative Assistant.

Mulugeta’s mother, Sirgut Ashenaffi, also made the trip to Texas due to the school’s fundraising effort. “Thank you so much for your support of our family and specially Abigail through this exciting road,” she told the CPCS-MLT students and their families.

— By Doug Petrowski