By Kimberly Gasuras
CCN Reporter
CRESTLINE – Thirteen-year-old Kayleigh Malone has loved to read and spell since she was a little girl.
“I always got A’s on my spelling tests when I was younger,” said Kayleigh, who participated in the spelling bee at Crestline Exempted Village Schools where she is in the seventh grade.
“I won at my school and was chosen as a wild card after the county spelling bee which meant I got to take the test to see if I would be chosen to go to the (Scripps) National Spelling Bee in Washington D.C.,” Kayleigh said.
Malone was elated when she found out she was picked to participate in the national competition but her mom, Jennifer, said they were not given much notice.
“They had sent the information to one of her teachers while the school was on spring break. By the time we found out, the registration fee of $750 was due in three days,” Jennifer said.
Kayleigh’s teacher contacted local businesses and Zara Construction, Inc. of Ontario paid the fee.
“We are so grateful. We need a total of $2,000, which includes the hotel room and transportation, and we only have about $860 more to go,” said Jennifer, who will be making the trip with her daughter from May 26 to June 1.
Kayleigh’s family has set up a Go Fund Me account to help pay for the unexpected trip.
“It is a once in a lifetime experience for her. We are so proud of her achievement,” said Jennifer.
Kayleigh’s speller number is 386 on the Meet the Spellers page on the Scripps National Spelling Bee site at http://spellingbee.com/meet-the-spellers.
Donations can be made at https://www.gofundme.com/kayleighmalone or by sending a check made out to Jennifer Malone to Crestline High School at 435 Oldfield Road, Crestline, Ohio, 44827.