Bee competitors to receive gifts

Twenty-four pupils will compete in the countywide spelling bee, which begins at 4:30 p.m. Monday at Grovetown Middle School.

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Each of Columbia County's 17 elementary schools and seven middle schools will have a representative in the bee.

"We have winners in athletics. We have winners in all areas," said Mike Lindsey, the school system's director of student learning for middle schools and the gifted program. "But when we have winners in academic areas, it's indicative of what we're about in schools."

Karen Ribble, the school system's community relations coordinator, said the participants will receive additional prizes this year for the first time.

Each competitor will receive a gift bag of items from local business partners.

In addition to the gift bag, the top speller will earn a $50 gift card from Academy Sports and a digital camera donated by the Grovetown Merchants Association.

The winner of the Columbia County contest will compete in the regional spelling bee at 10 a.m. March 8 at The Augusta Chronicle building, 725 Broad St.

The top speller in the regional competition will advance to the 81st annual Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., on May 28 and 29.