HOWARD – Four East Knox Elementary students have earned the right to represent their school at the 2025 Knox County Spelling Bee.
The county bee is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Jan. 15 in the Mount Vernon High School theater.
Madelyn Dale emerged as the fifth-grade winner by correctly spelling “phantom” after six rounds that included 10 participants. Peyton Sellers was runner-up.
Jace Daugherty correctly spelled “symphony” to win the sixth-grade title after nine rounds that included 10 students. Runner-up honors went to Maria Scarazza.
The seventh-grade winner was Callie May, who correctly spelled “artificial” to conclude 14 rounds that featured seven participants. Collin Beltz was runner-up.
Kayli Stamper correctly spelled “newfangled” to win the eighth-grade competition. She emerged as the winner after six rounds that included seven contenders. Lucas Colopy was runner-up.
The four grade-level winners will advance to the county bee to compete against in-school bee winners from Centerburg, Danville, Fredericktown and Mount Vernon. The Knox County commissioners will serve as judges.
The bee is facilitated by the Knox County Educational Service Center (ESC) with financial support from the Mount Vernon Rotary Club.
Taylor Gingery, the ESC’s gifted and talented coordinator, helps to arrange the in-school bees and will be the pronouncer at the county bee.