On Sunday, February 8, 2015, 10 year old fifth grader Akia Allan represented K. Anthony’s School at the Los Angeles County Scripps Regional Spelling Bee.  This event is countywide and the winner advances to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington DC.  Akia was one of 115 final contestants out of 23,000 total participants. After a competitive 5 1/2 hours, Akia finished in 4th place. The three finalists were 6th and 7th graders. Previous to this event, earlier in the day, he participated in a 2 ½ hour spelling bee sponsored by the Parenting OC Magazine in Orange County and tied with two other students for 1st Place.  

Akia has won 1^st place in the City of Carson Spelling Bee and K. Anthony’s class and school bees.  He has also placed 3rd in the Rainbow Math Spelling Bee in Fremont, California.  Akia enjoys playing chess and is an active member of the US Chess Federation. He also enjoys watching African movies and traveling to Ghana to spend time with his family and friends.

As soon as Akia Allan began speaking, he would inform his mom and aunt of the names of grocery stores they would frequent as they drove past.  At age three, he began reading as is the custom for children at K. Anthony’s School.  At age four, his father, who holds doctorates in both mathematics and engineering, began to teach Akia math.  He used a technique that he learned as a child in Ghana.  Before age five, Akia could do timetables from the 2 x12 series up to the 25×12 series and began to excel in math and subsequently spelling.

The K. Anthony’s School and local community congratulates Akia Allan on his big achievement. We are all very proud of you. Keep up the excellent work!