Twenty two (22) students, representing 10 public and one private K-8 schools, will soon compete for the title of best speller in Knox County. The winner will also represent the county at the annual Kentucky Derby Spelling Bee to be held this spring.
The 2011 Knox County Spelling Bee will be held at 9am on Monday, February 14, at the Knox County Board of Education Annex in Barbourville. Registration will be held from 8:30am to 8:55am.
Students competing at the countywide spelling bee qualified after winning the title of best speller at their school earlier this year. The spelling bee is open to students grades kindergarten through eighth.
Those qualifying for this year’s county spelling bee, and the schools they represent, are listed below:
| School | School Winner | School Runner-Up |
| Barbourville Independent | Cameron McHargue | Alexis Hammons |
| Central Elementary | Jenna Davis | Caden Melendez |
| Dewitt Elementary | Malloree Walker | Dylan Bingham |
| Flat Lick Elementary | Savanna Gray | Kennith Barrett |
| Girdler Elementary | Braden Isom | Cherokee Bowling |
| GR Hampton Elementary | Libby Kate Vaughn | Tucker Holland |
| Lay Elementary | Cara Mills | Brett Messer |
| Lynn Camp Elementary | Lauren Tipton | Kierstin Harmon |
| Knox County Middle | Katelyn Combs | Cody Lockard |
| Lynn Camp Middle | Melissa Smith | Tiana Simpson |
| St. Camillus Academy | Christopher Newquist | Grace Moses |
The county winner will advance to the Kentucky Derby Festival Spelling Bee to be held at Papa John’s Stadium in Louisville on March 19th.
Judges for the Knox County Spelling Bee will be Harrison Davis, Nancy Hampton, and Sharon McDonald, former educators in the Knox County Schools. Union College Campus Minister David Miller will once again serve as the pronouncer. Knox County Schools’ Public Relations Director Frank Shelton is coordinator.
The Knox County Board of Education is the primary sponsor of the annual county spelling bee and will provide 1st and 2nd place plaques to the top spellers and trophies to all participants.
The GFWC/KFWC Barbourville Junior Woman’s Study Club will provide lunch and refreshments for those in attendance, the Kentucky Farm Bureau, Knox County office (Scott Payne), will provide a gift for each participant. Knox County Community Education will also participate in this year’s spelling bee.
The county spelling bee will be videotaped and shown on Knox County Schools’ TV-4, and posted online at www.knox.kyschools.us, following the state spelling bee in March.
For more information contact Frank Shelton, coordinator, at (606)546-8911.