European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 24, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                V monday january 24, 1994 the stars and stripes Page 3 Dodds pupils facing Tough spell by Jimi Jones and sue Palumbo staff writers san Vito Dei Normanna Italy dimension. Utt Erable. Suddenness. And the final word scrawny. Those were some of the words judges threw at Brin Disi elementary school pupils during a recent spewing Bee. The hardest part was trying to keep Calm said 11-year-old Kevin Ballentine who won the contest. I had to take a lot of deep  As the Winner the sixth grader will represent his school at the All Italy Bee in february. Fifth grader Dorcas Williams is the runner up. Kevin and Dorcas Are among the Young pupils in department of defense dependents schools who by saturday must Complete school level spelling bees. The school level events Are the second step in a five step academic journey that will Lead one of them to the . Capital and a spot at a 66-year-old annual spelling Competition. Dodds pupils Are competing in class room school and District level spelling contests in Hopes of capturing the school system s spot in the 67th annual Scripps Howard National spelling Bee. Following District competitions spellers from As far away As Turkey will meet in Germany for the 12th annual european spelling Bee sponsored by the european Congress of american parents teachers and students or Eca pts. Eca pts is the european Arm of the american National Parent teacher association. The european contest will be held March 26 in Kaiserslautern Germany. The Winner of the european Competition will represent Dodds at the nationally televised Scripps Howard spelling Bee in Washington. The stars and stripes newspaper sponsors the con Testant in Washington during National spelling Bee week normally the last week in May. The Competition is open to third through eighth graders. Overcoming stage fright was t easy for the Brindisi pupils Many of whom prac tired As much As three hours a Day to pre pare for Battle first with their class mates then for the school finals. Judges tried to make the process As painless As possible by giving the pupils desks pencils and paper along with water to drink. Each child was Given 45 seconds to spell the word aside from time to ask questions. Contestants could have the word repeated several times ask for a definition or ask to have the word used in a sen tence. After each round sympathetic classmates applauded the contestants efforts. There really Are techniques to taking the test said Marcy Yanoff contest coordinator. I Tell them to write every word Down even if it in t theirs. That helps keep them Calm and tells them if the word has already been used Yanoff also tells competitors to use their time Well by asking All the questions. Since the time does t count against them it gives them More Opportunity to think she said. But All the tricks in the Book Don t hold a Candle to what 10-year-old Jas mine Evans said helped her gel to the school finals each night my mom sat on one Side of the Couch and i sat on the other and she d give me words. I did t think i could do it but my mom told me to keep going because she knew i  european spelling Bee coordinator Nan Peters said Friday from Darmstadt Germany that All local school contests like Brindisi a should be completed by saturday intermediate or District rounds must be finished by feb. 26, which will give the Young spellers exactly one month to pre pare for the final round the March european Bee. In addition to an expenses paid trip to Washington the european Winner for the past two years Tracy Lynne Sar Geant received a set of the new encyclopaedia Britannica Courtesy of encyclopaedia Britannica. Tracy represented Augsburg High school in Germany and got to the sixth round of National level Competition last year. Peters said the european round will be an Oral Competition to prepare spellers for the National Bee where pupils Are not allowed to write their words before spelling them. Awards at local Levels vary but Scripps Howard awards the National Winner $5,000. Other monetary prizes Are awarded to spellers ranging from $50 to $4,000. Anniversary preparations on track Geoff Kerley left and Geoff Coats of the a Day museum in Portsmouth England remove the dust cover from a restored world War Hera Sherman tank. The museum is preparing for the 50th anniversary of the a Day invasion of Normandy France by Allied forces which occurred on june 6,1944. To sign Deal Brussels Belgium. A Lithuania is Likely to become the first East european country to sign on to nato s new plan granting limited partnerships to its former adversaries officials said. Lithuanian president Algirdas Brazauskas is scheduled to sign the partnership for peace document Dur ing a visit thursday to the Headquarters of the 16-na Tion North Atlantic treaty organization in Brussels. At a recent Summit president Clinton and other Alli Ance leaders invited their former Warsaw pact foes to accept the plan which would draw the nations closer without granting them full membership. Once the nations sign the document they will work out individual programs for taking part in military exercises peacekeeping and other nato activities. In turn they Promise to share information about defense budgets install civilian control Over the military and standardize weapons systems. Since winning Independence in 1991, Lithuania has expressed deep concern about its Security citing expansionist trends in Russia. Anxiety in the Baltic and other countries in Eastern Europe increased after Vic tories by russian nationalists in parliamentary elections in december. Lithuania earlier this month asked for full membership in the Alliance and the Security guarantees that go with it. Poland Hungary and others also wanted to join but the nato allies refused to allow them full membership for fear that would create a new division in Europe and anger Russia. Teen recognition program accepts nominations by Jimi Jones education writer bad Kreuz Nach Germany teen agers living in the 53rd area sup port group could earn $100 savings Bonds and other awards in a local recognition program that encourages Young people to be Good citizens. It s important that communities encourage teens to do Good things said Vic Conyers the coordinator of 53rd area support group youth services. Kids Are first noted for what they Don t do and All the negative Ness con yers said Friday. To Reward them especially in front of their Peers we Hope will rub off and make others want to be ambitious and to be recognized  the 53rd s recognition plan began last year As part of the . Army Europe top 40 program initiated by the com Mand to celebrate the 25th anniversary of youth services. The top 40 program recognized the accomplishments of 40 outstanding adolescents whose sponsors were assigned to army units across Europe. The 53rd decided to carry on the pro Gram a second year. Usa eur spokeswoman Millie Waters said a proposal for a second year at the command level is being worked and there is a Strong possibility that they will do it  the teen recognition program Moti Vates youth services staff As Well As teen agers Conyers said citing bad Kreuz Nach senior Thomas Kendall As an exam ple of How teen agers Excel when recognized. Kendall recognized last year is vice president of the youth services teen coun cil and tutors elementary school children. His grades have soared and he has advanced from sergeant to major in Junior Roth Conyers said. We often Overlook teen agers and expect them to be on their own Conyers said. This program offers them a moment to Shine Conyers said the 53rd ask will award at least nine $100 savings Bonds three to teen agers in each of its base support battalions bad Kreuz Nach Mainz Wiesbaden and Baum older. Thirteen to 19-year-old family Mem Bers of Active duty army people reservists military retirees and defense department civilians Are eligible for the program. Teen agers must be enrolled in Junior High Middle or High school and live within the 53rd ask area. Nominations should be. Submitted to the 53rd s youth services coordinator by Jan. 31. Nominations should to one Page summaries of out standing accomplishments in Community service leadership experience extracurricular activities self improvement Scholastic achievement role modelling work experience and other attributes. In addition to the summary nomination packages should include the nominee s signature address Home Telephone number and names of parents As Well As the name and signature of the nominating official who should have per Sonal knowledge of the student s accomplishments. There is no limit on the number of Teon agers a base sup port battalion May submit