Over one hundred family members and friends watched in anticipation as fifty-five youth competed in the 12th Annual Housing Authority Spelling Bee on Monday, October 22, 2012.  With the theme, “Bee Positive, Bee Different, Bee You,” the competition brought together youth from several of Milwaukee’s neighborhoods, including Highland Homes, Hillside, Westlawn, and Carver Park.  The event was held at the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee’s Community Services Building, 650 W. Reservoir.   

Fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth graders prepared for the competition for weeks through the programs of the Housing Authority and its partners, including the Silver Spring Neighborhood Center and the Pieper-Hillside Boys & Girls Club. 

Eric Von, WMCS 1290 talk show host, served as pronouncer and the judges were Beverly Johnson, Mindy Biedrzycki and Public Safety Chief Gregory Moore of the Housing Authority.  The event was organized by HACM Education Specialist Darrell Finch. 

First-place winners were: Shak’la Harrington, 5th grade; Andrae Mahr, 6th grade; Kaetryn Koneazny, 7th grade; and Antionette Howard, 8th grade.

The Spelling Bee is an annual event of the Housing Authority’s Education Initiative, which provides a holistic approach to education that emphasizes daily attendance in school and academic achievement, but also develops family-focused environments for educational success.

The Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee (HACM) provides safe, high-quality and affordable housing options to over 10,000 Milwaukee families. HACM further provides a wide range of educational, employment, and social services to enhance residents’ self-sufficiency.