markus had another enjoyable weekend. this time, he was in his school team from KGV for the state Spell-It-Right competition. his school team garnered first place with a prize money of RM 2,000. hopefully, the school will divide some of the money among the 4 participants. his team-mate, vikram, a fifth-former, made it all the way and emerged state champ.
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2008/06/16
RHB-New Straits Times Spell-It-Right Challenge: Vikram can count his chickens now
Negri Sembilan state champion in the secondary school category Vikram A.R. Ramachandran with his teachers Ng Yoke Leng (right) and Ch'ng Kooi Hwa. |
SEREMBAN: It was the aphorism "don't count your chickens before they are hatched" that kept Vikram A.R. Ramachandran, who emerged state champion for the secondary school category in the RHB-New Straits Times Spell-It-Right Challenge, ahead of the game.
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"My mother always told me that. I just did my best, word after word," said the 17-year-old, who aced all 14 words presented to him.
The Form Five pupil of SMK King George V had also made a sacrifice by choosing to forego a scholarship test, which was being held on the same day as the competition, yesterday.
"It was worth it. Now I have RM2,000 in prize money and I get to represent the state in the national challenge."
Second prize winner Lim Ern Hui, of SMJK Chan Wa, who replaced another student who dropped out at the last minute, was still in a daze after her win and could not decide on what to do with her RM1,500 prize money.
"I never expected this. I can't decide how to spend the money yet. Maybe I'll buy some books," said the 15-year-old Form Three pupil.
Chai Koon Xian, 17, of SMK Seri Ampangan, emerged second runner-up and won RM1,000 and a certificate.
Chai won after his opponent, Mageswary M. Sivan of SMK Taman Tunku Jaafar, failed to spell "ridicule".
Vikram's teammates, Ashwin Raghavan, Markus Loke Qi En and Rafiqa Rifaad, have pledged to help their friend ensure a team win at the national challenge to be held at the National Museum Auditorium on Aug 9.
In the team event, the quartet bagged the state championship, beating 15 other schools. They accumulated the highest points and took home RM2,000 and a certificate.
SM Sains Tuanku Jaafar was runner-up and won RM1,500 and a certificate, while third prize went to SM St Paul, which won RM1,000 and a certificate.
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