29-03-2025
Students excel at Tom Colley Reading Bee
tazewell, va. — Spelling, vocabulary and reading comprehension were tested Thursday when fourth-grade and fifth-grade teams from Tazewell County schools competed and excelled at the 23rd Annual Tom Colley Reading Bee.
Formerly known as the Tazewell County Reading Bee, the competition was renamed the Annual Tom Colley Reading Bee in honor of the late executive editor of the Bluefield Daily Telegraph. Colley, who was chairman of the Literacy Committee of what is now the Chamber of Commerce of the Two Virginias, created the reading bee concept as a way to help children develop a love of reading.
Ten teams representing the fourth and fifth grades at five of Tazewell County's schools competed at this year's reading bee. These schools included Abbs Valley Boissevain Elementary School, Cedar Bluff Elementary, Graham Intermediate School, Richlands Elementary School and Tazewell Intermediate School. These teams competed in categories including vocabulary, spelling, comprehension, editing and impromptu, which is a skit that's performed without rehearsal.
After the judges watched the teams compete and made their decisions, the fourth grade overall winner was Cedar Bluff Elementary. Cedar Bluff Elementary's Fourth Grade Team included coach Dana Smith with students Jordan Hylton, Lanh Pham, Avery Martin and Paisley Richardson.
The fourth grade overall winner was Cedar Bluff Elementary School. Cedar Bluff Elementary's Fourth Grade Team included coach Dana Smith with students Jordan Hylton, Lanh Pham, Avery Martin and Paisley Richardson.
The fourth grade runner up was Graham Intermediate School. Graham Intermediate School's Fourth Grade Team included coach Sarah Jones with students Neveah Shrader, Laney Holman, Harper Mitchem and Kylie Sparks.
The fifth grade overall winner was Richlands Elementary School. Richlands Elementary School's Fifth Grade Team included coach Kiffani Dales with students Caelyn Arms, Kai Rohrer, Aubree Gilbert and Ella-Rae Patton.
The fifth grade runner up was Tazewell Intermediate School. Tazewell Intermediate School's Fifth Grade included coach Courtney Mullins with students Scarlet Brittain, Payton Bowman, Madison Montaigne and Harper Crone.
Supporters of the 23rd Annual Tom Colley Ready Bee included the following:
Bluefield Daily Telegraph; Craft Memorial Library; Rotary Club Princeton WV; Peter R. Romano/Ameriprise; Financial Services LLC; Mrs. Charles (Dafney K.) Peters; Rotary Club Bluefield WV; George M. Cruise Foundation; First Community Bank; Rotary Club Bluefield, Va.; Frank Smoot Charitable Trust; Venture Printing; the Family of Eugenia Hancock; Anytime Fitness; WVVA; City National Bank; and Lawrence Brothers, Inc.
Organizers also thanked the Community Foundation of the Virginias, Inc.,which supported the reading bee through the Unrestricted Fund of the Foundation and The Bluefield Daily Telegraph Literacy Fund.
Organizers also acknowledged Lindsey Mullins Woodard, Tazewell County Schools director of public relations; Communities In Schools of the Appalachian Highlands; the Tazewell County School Board; the Mercer County Board of Education; Debbie Maynard and Cassie Evans with the Chamber of Commerce of the Two Virginias.
Contact Greg Jordan at
gjordan@
