Love for reading spells success for 7th grader

Reading and spelling go hand in hand. Just ask Jessica Davis.

The 13-year-old seventh grader, a straight-A student at St. Benilde and a member of the National Junior Honor Society, recently won the 24th annual New Orleans Spelling Bee. As a regional qualifier, she will compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., May 30-31.

“I always remember the words I learn from books,” said Jessica, the daughter of Basil and Shyla Davis and a parishioner of the Center of Jesus the Lord. “It’s more interesting than looking at a bunch of words on a list,” she said, referring to the 1,000-word lists provided by bee organizers.

Jessica said she has a special love for classics and adventure literature.

“I really love the ‘Lord of the Rings’ trilogy, said Jessica, who is currently reading “Heidi.”

Her principal, Vickie Helmstetter, said Jessica consistently places first at St. Benilde in the number of points earned in the Accelerated Reader program.

After winning her school-level bee in February, Jessica advanced to the New Orleans tournament, held at Xavier University of Louisiana. She survived more than 30 rounds, correctly spelling words such as “ipecac,” “dachshund,” “isinglass” and “kohlrabi.”

“I always pause and I think about the syllables, then I spell it in my head,” Jessica said. She also finds it helpful to ask for definitions, because a word’s meaning often will jar her memory of studying it from the list.

Jessica also receives ongoing support from her sister Melinda, a St. Benilde graduate and a freshman at Mount Carmel Academy who represented New Orleans at the 2010 Scripps National Bee.

“She made some lists and stuff, so I think maybe with her helping me, I’ll do a lot better because she’s been there,” Jessica said, noting that the contests have made her “more confident” in her daily life.

“(In the weeks leading up to competition) I try to study a little each day. You have to set aside time to pace yourself,” Jessica said. “I try to tell myself that it won’t be that horrible.”

Jessica, who also recently qualified to compete in the March 30 State Geography Bee in Baton Rouge, will attend Mount Carmel Academy in the fall.