Twenty two (22) students, representing Knox County’s public and 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 2012 Knox County Spelling Bee will be held at 10am on Monday, February 20, at the Knox County Board of Education Annex in Barbourville. Registration will be held from 9:30am to 9:55am.
Students competing at the countywide spelling bee qualified after winning the title of best speller or runner-up at their school earlier this year. The spelling bee is open to all students grades kindergarten through eighth.
Those qualifying for this year’s county spelling bee, and the schools they represent, are listed below:
| School | Participants |
| Barbourville Independent | Ethan Blevins and Connor Frederick |
| Central Elementary | Adrianna Brock and Kaitlyn Gray |
| Dewitt Elementary | Corey Simpson and Malloree Walker |
| Flat Lick Elementary | Joseph Hunter Bevins and Morgan Alyssa Gray |
| Girdler Elementary | Madison Gibson and Matthew Hensley |
| GR Hampton Elementary | Trey Carter and Tawney Nelson |
| Lay Elementary | Mitchell Buchanan and Cara Mills |
| Lynn Camp Elementary | Sarah Cox and Jayden Jones |
| Knox County Middle | Will Hammons and Jesse Keyes |
| Lynn Camp Middle | Tony Morris and Christian Pippin |
| St. Camillus Academy | Trey Cima and Kyra Meece |
The county winner will advance to the Kentucky Derby Festival Spelling Bee to be held at the PNC Club at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium in Louisville on March 20th.
Judges for the Knox County Spelling Bee will be Harrison Davis, Nancy Hampton, and Sharon McDonald, former educators in the Knox County Schools. Karl Wallhausser, English professor at Union College, will 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.
This year’s bee will be broadcast live on WYWY 950 AM radio. The bee will also 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.