Edward Ernest, Gab Cabarcas, and Vincent Jiang will represent Mount Vernon Middle School at the upcoming Knox County Spelling Bee. The event is scheduled for January 14 at 7 p.m. in the Mount Vernon High School auditorium.
The three students earned their spots by winning their respective grade-level competitions within the school. Ernest secured the sixth-grade title after spelling “atrium” correctly in the 13th round, with Aiden Gilmore finishing as runner-up among twelve participants. Cabarcas won the seventh-grade bee by spelling “conscience” in the fifth round, ahead of eight other students; Maria Scarazza was runner-up. In eighth grade, Jiang claimed victory by spelling “fiberglass” in the eighth round, while Asher Reed finished second out of ten competitors.
These champions will compete against winners from Centerburg, Danville, East Knox, and Fredericktown schools. The Knox County Commissioners are set to serve as judges during the countywide event.
The Knox County Educational Service Center organizes the county bee and receives financial support from the Mount Vernon Rotary Club. Taylor Gingery, gifted and talented coordinator for the ESC, assists with arranging school-level bees and will act as pronouncer at the county competition.
