Words by Anna Lee Vaughn | Images by Justin Hunter
Valley Junior High School student Layne Windom recently clinched the top spot at the district spelling bee. Following this achievement, The Walker Leader spoke with him to delve into his experience and gain insight into his academic pursuits, hobbies, and passions.
Layne earned his way to the district spelling bee through a series of victories. He initially triumphed in his classroom spelling bee, then claimed success at the school-wide and district levels. “This year, I just wanted to try again. Because last year I didn’t win. This time, I wanted to see if I could get better,” says Layne.
Now, he is gearing up for the upcoming state spelling bee.
For Layne, spelling comes naturally owing to his love for reading. He enjoys studying history and cites the Bible as his favorite read, particularly the Book of John. He also highly recommends his latest read, Woods Runner, by Gary Paulsen.
When he’s not at school or immersed in books, Layne dedicates three days a week to practicing jiu-jitsu. “I just thought it would be fun to learn, and as I get older, I’ll be able to use it if I need to,” he says.
Although Layne has ample time to ponder his future career path, his love for the Bible has sparked an interest in one day becoming a pastor. As he grows and explores these interests, Layne’s profound love for learning is poised to propel him towards great accomplishments.
The Walker Leader congratulates Layne on his accomplishments and wishes him success at the state spelling bee! WL
