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JONESBOROUGH, Tenn. (WJHL) — Students from Washington County, Tennessee, showcased their spelling prowess at the county’s annual spelling bee held on Tuesday.
The event took place at Jonesborough Elementary School and featured two groups: one for students in first through fourth grades and another for those in fifth through eighth grades.
Cyrus Fees, the event organizer, expressed his hopes that local students will eventually compete on a national stage in Washington, D.C.
“We’re seeing more kids getting enthusiastic about spelling at the school level,” Fees commented. “This enthusiasm translates into stronger competitors at the county level. Our ultimate dream is to see them progress from Washington County all the way to Washington, D.C.”
Beyond spelling, the competition also provides students with valuable experience in public speaking, enhancing their confidence and communication skills.
“We’re making these kids better speakers. They’re speaking on a microphone in front of a crowd, which is amazing. That’s how I got started. I started at the Greene County Spelling Bee in Greeneville, and now I work on TV,” Fees said. “It could be the step to something big for some of these kids. It gives them a lot of confidence.”
The winners of the spelling bee were:
1st Grade through 4th Grade
Jim Laughlin
3rd grader, Ridgeview Elementary
Winning word: Syndrome
5th Grade through 8th Grade
Charlotte Clevenger
6th grader, Gray Elementary
Winning word: Cyst