Kiana is in elite company

Every student walked away Saturday with at least a medal and a precious memory, but only one is going to Washington, D.C.

That would be Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy seventh-grader Kiana Lacroix, who can now look forward to an amazing week in late May.

She and a parent or guardian will be going to the Scripps National Spelling Bee May 27-29 for the highest level of spelling competition in all the land. But before, during and after, she'll meet some of the most interesting students in the nation. She'll also be immersed in the cradle of our country's political system and be exposed to art and culture she won't find in North Idaho.

The Press is proud to sponsor Kiana and her chaperone, and once again, we thank our friends at North Idaho College for doing all the work that makes the regional bee so successful, year in and year out.

It doesn't seem possible, but Kiana conquered the field for the 11th time since we became a partner with Scripps in the national bee. Winners from public, private and home schools advance to the regional bee from Idaho's five northern counties. So far, though, every winner has been from Kootenai County.

This is as good a time as any to pay tribute to the champions who preceded Kiana. We applaud them all.

2004: Max Keister, Sixth Grade, Home School District, of Post Falls

2005: Matt Harlow, Eighth Grade, Canfield Middle School, Coeur d'Alene School District

2006: Rachel Pinkerton, Sixth Grade, Home School District, of Coeur d'Alene

2007: Gabriel Cheeley, Seventh Grade, Home School District, of Post Falls

2008: Rachel Pinkerton, Eighth Grade, Home School District, of Coeur d'Alene

2009: Sabrina Smith, Seventh Grade, Christian Center School, Private School District

2010: Sabrina Smith, Eighth Grade, Christian Center School, Private School District

2011: Rebekah Pinkerton, Fifth Grade, Home School District, of Coeur d'Alene

2012: Sarah-Jessica Sedy, Eighth Grade, Woodland Middle School, Coeur d'Alene School District

2013: Tricia McCullough, Eighth Grade, Canfield Middle School, Coeur d'Alene School District

2014: Kiana Lacroix, Seventh Grade, Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy, Coeur d'Alene School District