Carsyn Adkins, Sophia Workman, Cross Adkins, and Parker Fearn will represent Fredericktown Local Schools in the upcoming Knox County Spelling Bee. The students earned their spots by winning recent grade-level spelling competitions held at their school.
In the fifth-grade competition, Parker Fearn secured first place by correctly spelling “fabulous” and “anguish” during the 10th round. Gracelynn Lyons was named runner-up among 18 participants. Cross Adkins took the sixth-grade title after nine rounds by spelling “whittled” and “fiberglass,” with Tanner Philpott as runner-up from a group of nine.
Sophia Workman won the seventh-grade bee by spelling “prestigious” and “courier” in five rounds that started with nine spellers; Lachian Flint finished second. For eighth grade, Carsyn Adkins became champion after spelling “chartreuse” and “Nehru,” concluding four rounds with Cora Frye as runner-up out of 11 competitors.
These four champions will compete against winners from Centerburg, Danville, East Knox, and Mount Vernon at the county-wide event scheduled for January 14 at 7 p.m. in the Mount Vernon High School auditorium. Judges for this year’s bee will again be the Knox County Commissioners.
The event is organized by the Knox County Educational Service Center (ESC) with financial support provided by the Mount Vernon Rotary Club. Taylor Gingery, gifted and talented coordinator at ESC, helps coordinate in-school bees across districts and will serve as pronouncer for the county competition.
