Two Teams of Archmere Students Earn Highest Cumulative WordWright Honors

The WordWright Challenge is a national reading competition for students in grades 9 through 12 that require analytical reading of many kinds of prose and poetry. It emphasizes perceptive interpretation, sensitivity to language, and an appreciation of style. There are four meets per year but only the scores of the top 10 students at each grade level officially count. The sum of these top 10 scores represents each team's score.

 

In the cumulative standings at the end of the four WordWright Challenge meets this year, Archmere's eleventh graders placed thirteenth in the nation and the twelfth graders placed tenth. English Department Chair and Teacher Stephen Klinge supervised the Archmere students. Over 600 high school teams participated in this national competition.

 

Three of Archmere's students won highest honors for year-long individual achievement as well: Junior Hanna Palczuk was one of the 22 highest scoring eleventh graders out of approximately 15,000 in the entire country, while senior Emily Dentinger was one of the 15 highest scoring twelfth graders nationwide, and senior Preet Bhaidaswala one of the 21 highest scorers at this grade level, both out of approximately 17,000 seniors.

 

In the final WordWright Challenge meet that was held in April, junior Hanna Palczuk and senior Emily Dentinger earned perfect scores. Those who also excelled in the April meet included juniors Kiki Lawlor, John Luke Pileggi-Frauguada and Caleb Wang, along with seniors Preet Bhaidaswala, Megan Clements and Devon O'Dwyer.