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The champion of the first (annual?) Susquehanna County Spelling Bee is Lincoln Bunnell of Montrose, a student in Mrs. Capwell’s homeroom class at Lathrop Street Elementary School. The word he spelled correctly to win the victory was “emptiness.”

The competition at the Blue Ridge auditorium on March 26th was the culmination of a series of spelling bees for 5th graders in each of the 6 school districts in the county. The top three spellers from each district, 18 in all, gathered before the event to draw lots determining the order they would be spelling.

From a podium on the stage before a sizable audience that were more interested in spelling than volleyball, Blue Ridge reading specialist Brandy Gaylord read from a list of 193 words, providing definitions and examples of use when asked. Ms. Gaylord’s colleague, Kathy Roe, acted as moderator, pronouncing “Correct” or ringing a bell as each contestant completed spelling a word. The bell signaled an error, knocking the speller out of the competition. Additional judges representing the three newspapers in the county (Lauren Royce for the Montrose Independent, John Kameen for the Forest City News, and Ted Brewster for the Susquehanna Transcript) supplemented Ms. Roe’s determinations. It took 101 words to determine a winner.

Runners up were Adalynn Noldy and Madison Allen, both of Elk Lake Elementary School. Each of them received a $100 gift card to Lahey Family Fun Park in Clarks Summit. Mr. Bunnell, the champion, received a check for $1,000.

The Spelling Bee project was organized by Tom Follert and Tammy Bonnice of the United Way. As Mr. Follert said, it was an “educational investment” by the United Way of Susquehanna County. Mr. Follert and Ms. Bonnice are to be honored as Susquehanna County Distinguished Citizens by the Baden-Powell Council of Scouting America next month.

Can you spell “onomatopoeia” without looking?

The Baden-Powell Council, Scouting America, is pleased to announce that the 2026 Susquehanna County Distinguished Citizen Awards will be presented to Tammy Bonnice and Tom Follert. The annual award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the community through their leadership, service, and philanthropy. The award will be presented at a celebration at The Octagon Barn at Woodbourne on Saturday, April 18 and help support Scouting America in Susquehanna County.

“We are thrilled to be able to recognize and celebrate Tom and Tammy at this year’s event,” said Tom Chamberlain, Event Co-chair. “Both individually, and often times working together, Tom and Tammy are at the heart of community events and working to ensure Susquehanna County remains a vibrant community. They exemplify the ideals of the Scouting program, and their leadership and service have improved the quality of life across the county. We hope the community will help us honor them this spring and help support Scouting America in our community.”

Tammy Bonnice, raised in Dimock Township, Susquehanna County, is a true servant-leader whose heart for others has shaped schools, families, and communities across Northeast Pennsylvania for nearly two decades. Known for her kindness, humility, and unwavering dedication, Tammy has spent her career, and much of her personal life, lifting up the people around her.

For 18 years, Tammy has proudly served on the United Way Board of Susquehanna County. Tammy also serves on the board for the Susquehanna County Recreation Center, SAFE (Supporting All Families Everyday), Wyoming Valley United Way, Lackawanna College of Petroleum and Natural Gas Advisory board. Tammy always puts the community first. Whether coordinating volunteers, supporting local programs, or stepping in wherever she’s needed, she approaches every task with a deep compassion for those around her.

In her role with Williams, Tammy is a vital bridge between Williams and the communities it serves. She leads countless outreach efforts, school partnerships, and youth-focused programs, believing wholeheartedly in helping the next generation discover their strengths and future opportunities. Through Junior Achievement, career fairs, employability-skills workshops, and classroom visits, Tammy inspires students to dream bigger and embrace their potential.

Her impact extends beyond professional responsibilities. Tammy devotes endless hours to building her fitness business, where she teaches confidence, discipline, nutrition, fitness and wellbeing – values she lives out every day to women struggling with health and wellness.

Outside of her community work, Tammy finds joy in spending as much time with her family and friends, spending time in her vegetable garden, being out on the golf course, and enjoying a good book in the sun. She is always proud and always filled with stories of her 2 sons, daughters-in-law, and her two grandsons. Her family is truly her pride and joy!

Tom Follert, a Montrose native and proud graduate of Susquehanna University, returned to his hometown in 2006 with a singular, clear-eyed mission: to ensure that the community he loves remains a place where the next generation wants to stay, grow, and raise families of their own.

Throughout his career, Tom has operated under a unique guiding principle: business growth should feel personal. He believes that for any organization to truly succeed, its progress must be intrinsically linked to the well-being of the community that supports it. By weaving a theme of "giving back" into every professional role he has held, Tom has consistently turned local commerce into a catalyst for local connection and growth.

Over the last three years, Tom has taken this philosophy to a new level through his work with the United Way. In this role, he has become a bridge between resources and needs, amplifying the organization’s reach across Susquehanna County. Under his leadership, and fueled by the energy of a dedicated network of volunteers, the United Way has seen a surge in community impact, focusing on the well-being of youth, community resilience, and volunteer empowerment.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Tom is a devoted husband and father of three. His dedication to the community often extends to the sidelines, where he previously served as a volunteer soccer coach. Tom enjoys skiing, bowling, making maple syrup, and finds his greatest fulfillment in staying connected with family and friends.

For Tom, success isn't measured in spreadsheets, but in the vibrancy of the county’s communities. By fostering an environment where families can thrive and businesses prioritize people, he is helping to ensure that Susquehanna County isn't just a place where people are from – it's a place where they choose to be.

Scouts from across the county will join in the celebration on April 18. A welcome reception will begin at 1:30pm and will include a silent auction. The awards presentation will follow at 2:30pm. Tickets, sponsorships, and auction donations may be made online at https://www.bpcouncil.org/susquehannadcad/.

The Baden-Powell Council, Scouting America, serves youth throughout Susquehanna County as well as Broome, Chenango, Cortland, Tioga and Tompkins counties in New York.