DANVILLE – Four students from Danville Local Schools have earned the honor to represent their district in next month’s 65th annual Knox County Spelling Bee.
They won their recent in-school, grade-level bees.
Gracelyn Mazzari was the fifth-grade winner, correctly spelling “Saturn” after eight rounds. Oliver Avila was runner-up.
The sixth-grade title went to Vivian Burger, who correctly spelled “locust” in the 15th round. Coby Samples was runner-up.
Kaley Smith claimed the sixth-grade title by correctly spelling “guava” in the fourth round. Runner-up honors went to Charlotte Meyers.
The eighth-grade winner was Ana Avila. She correctly spelled “emblem” in the ninth round. Nelson Troyer was runner-up.
The four winners will advance to compete against in-school bee winners from Centerburg, East Knox, Fredericktown and Mount Vernon in the county bee at 7 p.m. Jan. 15 in the Mount Vernon High School theater. 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.